Lea Wait

Lea Wait (May 26, 1946 – August 9, 2019) was an American author of historical novels and mysteries, many set in Maine. She mainly wrote historical and contemporary books for children aged 7 and up. She also created the Shadows Antique Print Mystery series and Mainely Needlepoint series for adults.

Biography

Wait was born in Boston, Massachusetts and her family summered in Maine. She did her undergraduate work at Chatham College - now Chatham University - in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and her graduate work at New York University, completing all requirements for a doctorate except for the dissertation, a 'DWD', and joining AT&T as a manager. Her grandmother was an antiques dealer, and in 1976 she started an antique print business and decided she should become a writer.

In 1998, she left corporate life and moved to live in Edgecomb, Maine. She wrote and spoke about writing full-time. She married artist Bob Thomas in October 2003.

Publications

Antique Print Mysteries Featuring Maggie Summer, antique dealer and community college professor.

Shadows at the Fair, 2003, nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Shadows on the Coast of Maine, 2003, a Mystery Guild Editor's Selection. Shadows on the Ivy, 2004. Shadows at the Spring Show, 2005. Shadows of a Down East Summer, 2011 Shadows on a Cape Cod Wedding, 2013 Shadows on a Maine Christmas, 2014 Shadows on a Morning in Maine, 2016

Mainely Needlepoint Mysteries

Twisted Treads, 2015 Threads of Evidence, 2015 Thread and Gone, 2016 Dangling by a Thread, 2016 Tightening the Threads, 2017 Thread the Halls, 2017 Thread Herrings, 2018 Thread on Arrival, 2019 Thread and Buried, 2019

Children's books Stopping to Home, 2001, named a Notable Book for Children in 2001 by Smithsonian magazine. Seaward Born, 2003. Wintering Well, 2004, named one of "The Best Children's Books of 2004" by The Children's Book Committee at the Bank Street College of Education. Finest Kind, 2006. Uncertain Glory, 2014 Pizza to Die For, 2017

Non-fiction The Only Writing Series You'll Ever Need: Writing Children's Books with Lesley Bolton, 2007 Living and Writing on the Coast of Maine, 2015