Lea Wait

Lea Wait was an American author of historical novels and mysteries, many set in Maine. She has written historical and contemporary books for children aged 7 and up, two books of nonfiction, and the Shadows Antique Print Mystery series and Mainely Needlepoint series for adults.

Biography
Born in Boston, Massachusetts, she grew up in a family where books were an important part of life. 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. She also, as a single parent, adopted four “older” girls born in Korea, Thailand, Hong Kong, and India.

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. Lea Wait passed away in August 2019.

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