Born in New Jersey, 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 Mysterious Musings: Mystery Writer Lea Wait on Adoption, Writing in Two Genres, and Marriage to the Right Man at Long Last, 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.

It was in 1998 that she left the corporate life and moved to live in Edgecomb, Maine. She now divides her time between her writing and her antique print business. She married Bob Thomas in October 2003.

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 Simon & Schuster: Lea Wait.

"Shadows on the Coast of Maine", 2003, a Mystery Guild Editor's Selection.

"Shadows on the Ivy", 2004.

"Shadows at the Spring Show", 2005.

Children's Books

Her first children's book, "Stopping to Home", 2001, was 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.

Non-fiction

"The Only Writing Series You'll Ever Need: Writing Children's Books" with Lesley Bolton, 2007