Lea Wait

Lea Wait is a multi-faceted author, writing award-winning books for both adults and children; she also sells antique prints. Her expertise in antiques is a wonderful bonus for readers of her mysteries featuring Maggie Summer. I learned from her website (http://www.leawait.com/) that the prints she describes at the beginning of each chapter are available (subject to previous sale) for purchase. (The link to that information is on the home page.) I love the character of Maggie Summer; I am also very appreciative of Lea’s portrayal of characters with disabilities. Maggie’s good friend Gussie uses a wheelchair most of the time because of post-polio syndrome; Gussie’s young nephew Ben has Down’s syndrome.

Books:

Antique Print Mysteries featuring Maggie Summer

Author Bio:

Maine author Lea Wait is a fourth generation antique dealer who has been dealing in antique prints since 1977. She grew up in New Jersey and Maine, and then did her undergraduate work at Chatham College in Pittsburgh, and her graduate work at New York University, where she earned her MA and DWD. While raising the four Asian daughters she adopted as a single parent, Lea Wait worked in public relations and strategic planning for AT&T; now she divides her time between her writing and her antique business.

She is the author of the Shadows Antique Print Mystery series. Shadows at the Fair was a finalist for a "best first mystery" Agatha Award in 2002; Shadows On The Coast Of Maine was a Mystery Guild "Editor's Choice.” Shadows On The Ivy was also a Mystery Guild selection, and was called "fresh and relevant" and "hot stuff!" by The New York Times.  Of Shadows at the Spring Show, Mystery Scene Magazine wrote "It's hard to praise too highly Wait's skill at plotting, her ability at building suspense, and her ability to make so many diverse characters come alive."

Lea Wait also writes historical novels for ages seven and up set on the coast of Maine.  Stopping To Home was named a "notable children's book of 2001" by Smithsonian Magazine and the Bank Street College of Education;  Seaward Born (2003) also a Bank Street College "notable book," is recommended by the International Reading Association. Wintering Well (2004,) which she was invited to introduce at Vermont's Brattleboro Literary Festival in October of 2004, was called "a treasure waiting to be found" by Kirkus Reviews, and was her third Bank Street College "notable book." Her next book for children will be Finest Kind, scheduled for publication in October, 2006.

Bio and author photo are from author website, used with permission.

Author website: http://www.leawait.com/