Lightning strikes back-catalogue deal with self-published star May

Lightning Books has acquired bestselling self-published novelist Nicola May's back catalogue.

The Corner Shop in Cockleberry Bay, the author's romantic comedy, was Amazon’s third bestselling novel of 2019, and part of a four-book series. To date, she has self-published nine books. 

In February 2019, Lightning, an imprint of Eye Books, stepped in to publish a new paperback edition of the bestselling novel, with the author retaining e-book rights. Lightning went on to reach similar deals with May for three sequels — Meet Me in Cockleberry Bay, The Gift of Cockleberry Bay and Christmas in Cockleberry Bay.

Since then, May has signed with Hodder & Stoughton to publish The Ferry Lane Market trilogy, based around a fictitious street market in Cornwall. The first book has already been published and the second is due out on 11th November.

Lightning Books has now acquired world English language paperback rights to May's back catalogue, and will publish The Cockleberry Bay series from next month until the end of 2022. The first titles to be republished will be the 2013 comedy Working It Out and its 2014 sequel Let Love Win, out on 31st October.

Dan Hiscocks, founder of Lightning Books, said: "Nicola May is a force of nature in romantic fiction, achieving extraordinary success against all the odds with her Cockleberry Bay series. It was a privilege for us to join her on that journey, and we’re delighted to be able to introduce a new generation of readers to her earlier work."

May said: "I originally signed with Lightning because they offered me flexibility and control of my work, as well as a direct and friendly relationship. They helped my writing career flourish and grow, and I’m really looking forward to seeing my pre-Cockleberry Bay books re-emerge in beautiful new Lightning covers and finding fresh audiences."