Lea Wait, USA TODAY best-selling author of three mystery series for adults and seven books (six historicals set in Maine, one set in Scotland, and one contemporary mystery for ages eight sand up) will be speaking at the Southport Memorial Library, 1032 Hendricks Hill Rd., on Tuesday, Aug. 21 at 7 p.m. Readers of all ages are invited to hear her speak about her work, and her books will be available for purchase and signing.

Wait spent one summer as a child in West Southport, before her family bought their home in Edgecomb, and several of her books were influenced by that time. Her most recent mystery, “Death and A Pot of Chowder,” is set on an island very much like Southport. The first in her Maine Murder Mystery series, it debuted in June of this year to outstanding reviews, and pairs two sisters who meet for the first time, and bond over solving the murder of a lobsterman.

Wait also writes the eight-book “Shadows Antique Print” mystery series, and the six-book “Mainely Needlepoint” series. All but three of her mysteries are set in Maine.

Her book “Living and Writing on the Coast of Maine,” essays about her life with her artist husband Bob Thomas (1945-2018), who exhibited at the Southport Memorial Library last year, will also be available.

Six of Wait’s historical novels for all ages are set in 18th and 19th century Wiscasset, and have been honored by being named to student choice award lists throughout the country.

Her appearance Aug. 21 will mark the debut of her latest two historicals: one set in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1848 (“For Freedom Alone”), and one set in Boothbay, Wiscasset, and Saratoga in 1777 (“Contrary Winds”).

For more information about Lea Wait and her books, see her website, www.leawait.com, which includes free links to prequels of her most recent mysteries.