Edgecomb author Lea Wait writes historical novels for ages eight and up, and the Shadows Antique Print Mystery series for adults. On Wednesday, Sept. 10 she will be speaking about her latest mystery, “Shadows on a Maine Christmas,” at the Wiscasset Public Library (21 High Street) at 7 p.m. Copies of both her mysteries and her historical novels set in 19th century Wiscasset will be available for purchase and signing.

Her New York Times-praised and Agatha Award-nominated Shadows Antique Print Mystery series are traditional mysteries featuring antique print dealer and professor Maggie Summer.

“Shadows on a Maine Christmas,” the seventh in the Shadows series, was published Sept. 8. It is called “intelligent and entertaining ... keeps the reader guessing until the very last page” by Suspense Magazine, “beautifully written” by Mysterious women, and “frothy as eggnog ... loving descriptions of the Maine winter and the area’s strong sense of community” by Publishers Weekly.

“Shadows on a Maine Christmas” brings Maggie Summer back to Maine for the holidays. Will there be a romantic Christmas with snow and mistletoe? Or is something more sinister happening behind the small Maine town’s wreathed doors this season?

Lea Wait’s latest historical novel for ages 8-14, set in April 1861 Wiscasset during the first days of the Civil war, “Uncertain Glory,” was published in April of this year. “Twisted Threads,” the first in her new Mainely Needlepoint series, will be published in January 2015.

Lea was born in Boston and grew up in Maine and New Jersey. She did her undergraduate work at Chatham College and earned graduate degrees from New York University. While she was raising four daughters, all of whom she adopted as a single parent, she worked at AT&T. She is now married to artist Bob Thomas and is the grandmother of eight.

Her mysteries have been nominated for an Agatha Award, her books for young people have been on student choice award lists in 14 states, and she has been honored by a Lifetime Achievement Award in literature from Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Wait writes and speaks full-time, blogs with other Maine mystery writers at www.mainecrimewriters.com and invites readers to connect with her on Facebook and Goodreads. Her website, www.leawait.com, includes questions for book groups as well as additional information about both her life and her books.

All programs will feature New England authors on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. from Sept. 3 through Oct. 8. The remaining programs include the following:

Sept. 17 – Deborah Gould – “Household”
Sept. 24 – Van Reid – “Moss Farm”
Oct. 1 – Paul Betit – “The Man in the Canal”
Oct. 8 – Wendall Kinney – “The Bull and I” (CD)

A book signing will follow each event. Come to the library and meet these talented authors.

All Friends of the library programs are free and open to the public.