Living and Writing on the Coast of Maine

by Lea Wait

What's it like to live your dream? To live the life of an author? To (finally) be married to the man you love and live in the place you've always imagined? With wry humor and insight, Lea Wait, acclaimed author of 14 books in two genres, shares the good, the bad, and the challenging about living in a Maine house built in 1774, meeting publishing deadlines, and loving life. (Most of the time!) Lea always wanted to be an author, a mother, a wife ... and to live on the coast of Maine. She adopted her four daughters as a single parent. In 1998, after they were grown, she moved to Maine and began writing full-time. In 2003 she married Bob Thomas, a man she'd only known 12,994 days.Her story is a treasure for everyone who knows and love Maine, or writing ... or who dreams.

Genres: Nonfiction

221 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 11, 2015

About the author

Maine author Lea Wait writes the NYT-praised 8-book Shadows Antique Print Mystery series, the latest of which is SHADWS ON A MORNING IN MAINE, and the USA Today best-selling Mainely Needlepoint series which debuted with TWISTED THREADS in January, 2015, and was followed by THREADS OF EVIDENCE in August, 2015, THREAD AND GONE, in January, 2016, DANGLING BY A THREAD in late October, 2016, and TIGHTENING THE THREADS in March, 2017. Wait also writes acclaimed historical novels for ages 8 and up set in 19th century Maine, the latest of which, UNCERTAIN GLORY, takes place in a small northern town during the first two weeks of the Civil War. Lea's LIVING AND WRITING ON THE COAST OF MAINE, about being an author and living year 'round in Maine with a husband who's an artist also includes writing tips. Lea did her undergraduate work at Chatham College (now University) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and her graduate work at New York University. While she was raising the four daughters she adopted as a single parent she worked as a manager for AT&T. Now she writes full time and speaks at schools and libraries. She loves rowing, visiting historical sites, and, of course, reading and writing. See her website,
www.leawait.com, and the blog she writes with other Maine Mystery writers, http://www.mainecrimewriters.com, friend her on FB and Goodreads, and, if you'd like to be on her email list to find out when her next book will be published, send her your email address write to her at leawait@roadrunner.com

Reviews

[Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an author review, so you can expect it to be positive! But Living and Writing on the Coast of Maine is very special to me, because, yes, it's personal. In 1998 I left corporate live to live where I'd always wanted to live - on the coast of Maine, in my family home, built in 1774. Once there, I started writing full-time.I've had 15 books traditionally published so far. Loved my life! And then .. it got even better. I reconnected with the man I'd loved for decades. We'd been together .. then apart (repeat often) for many years, and hadn't been in touch at all for ten years. We were married in 2003. He's an artist. (We joke that we starve in two professions.) Living and Writing on the Coast of Maine is a series of short essays, some of which began as blog posts, about what it's like to live through all four seasons in Maine, and be an author -- complete with signings, deadlines, and long hours at the computer. I've also included chapters on how I write ... and what it feels like to live your dream, for better and (sometimes) for worse. Welcome to my world!

[Lea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an author review. And this book is a book of my heart, about living on the coast of Maine, marrying the man I'd loved (for only 12,994 days) and finally, after dreaming about it for years, living the life of a published author. Since 2001 I've had 15 books traditionally published (mysteries and historical fiction for young people) and married artist Bob Thomas. Is this life the one I'd dreamed of? In many ways - yes. In other ways -- well, if you'd like to find out what the real day-to-day life of an author is like, this is a book for you. A love story to Maine and a special man, and some insights about the writing life. Hope you enjoy this window into my world!

[Victoria Voigt · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s my dream to live in Maine and write, so when I came across this book I just HAD to read it! I love all of the Maine-specific details that made me feel like I was in Vacation Land. The author’s love of her home is infectious, and gets me excited to (one day!) live in a cozy, old colonial home on the coast too.

[Venus Newby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. I felt connected to the writer's writing style. I stumbled upon this book while meeting with a friend in Bath, Maine at The Mustard seed Bookstore. Even thou this book is a short easy read. My personal life was having to many interruptions. So it has only taken about 4 hours to read. I've marked out 2 lines in the book that were inspiring to me. Page 126 "Writing is a craft. Like all fine crafts its mastery takes time." Page 160 when Lea Wait states the age she got her 1st book published and the age she is now. I won't state this for anyone reading this but let you discover on your own. I lived in Maine for 4 years now and currently work North up route 1. I enjoyed the history of Maine and the landmarks shared in this book. I will be getting more of this author's book at my local library.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really did love this book!!!!! Having traveled to Maine this year I could picture the beautiful scenery. I really loved how the author felt and being able to live their plus be a writer and the experiences she went through. I would highly recommend this book to everyone. A pleasure reading it.

[Venusnewbycomcast.net · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is short & easily read in a weekend. Very interesting to me since I moved to Maine 4 years ago. Interesting information about Costal Maine. Great advice from the author to writers.

[Missi Martin (Stockwell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a fan of Lea Wait's Mainely Needlepoint Mystery series so when I saw this book by her I couldn't wait to read it ! Not only are you given a look into her life as a writer but you are given a peek at her personal life. Sometimes I think readers don't give authors enough thought or credit. Yeah, we read a book and enjoy it but there is so much more behind the book.....like everything the author put into it.... In Living and Writing on the Coast of Maine Lea provides the reader with short easy funny chapters telling us more about her work history and that she had corporate jobs for 30 years and started writing late. She also talks about marrying her husband after knowing him for 12,994 days before marrying him !!! She was a single woman who adopted 4 girls and raised them herself. She talks about Maine where her books are centered around makes you want to visit and maybe some day move there !!!



I love getting to know authors beyond the fictional books they write. Like I've said before authors are MY kind of celebrities. Meeting them, talking with them, even through emails or Facebooks posts, I love it !! You can have your Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie or whoever else you fancy, I'll "geek" out over Lea Wait and all the other authors......

[Hope Irvin Marston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having spent the first six years of my marriage in Harford County, Maine, I relived many happy experiences through the chapters of this assortment of personal essays. But you don’t have to live there, to enjoy these descriptions of everyday life as well as special days celebrated in the Pine Tree state.
True to its title, this book is about living AND WRITING. The second half is titled “Writing and the Writing Life.” It’s a quick course on what you need to know if you aspire to become a published writer. The first chapter in this section presents twelve things that everybody knows about authors, THAT AREN’T TRUE.
The rest of this section discusses things you need to know such as the following: How to find time to Write. Where ideas come from. Which comes first? Character, place, plot or time? How to write cozy mysteries. Beginning a new series. Polishing your manuscript. Research. And Creating a character bible.
Hope Irvin Marston, author of THE WALLS HAVE EARS: A BLACK SPY IN THE CONFEDERATE WHITE HOUSE.

[Mimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very low key, breezy book, nice for me to reminisce about my recent Maine vacation, possibly useful as classroom library book for aspiring writers. Needs editing, as she seems to have written the short chapters as blog posts? Which is ironic because she says her favorite part of the writing process is ... editing!

[Linda C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered Lea through her Shadows series and fell in love with her style. I really enjoyed this collection of essays and short blog adaptations sharing her personal and writing lives. It’s so sad to think there won’t be any more works from her. Goodbye Lea.

[Tracy Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

How truly wonderful to get to know a favourite author as a person and their writing practices. RIP Lea Wait. You will be greatly missed but your words will continue to be read and loved by many.