Charlotte author writes "The Boy Who Stole the Leopard's Spots"

Tamar Myers must be one of Charlotte's hardest-working -- and successful -- writers.

Over 15 years, she churned out more than 35 books as part of two comedic mystery series, one featuring a Mennonite innkeeper, the other an antiques dealer. More than 2 million copies have sold.

That's pretty impressive. But here's what makes me really happy for Myers: In 2009, she published "The Witch Doctor's Wife," a book that drew on her experiences growing up in the Congo, the daughter of missionaries.

She'd written it years earlier, and publishers had repeatedly rejected it. The content, they said, was too exotic.

When it was finally published, it got a starred Publishers Weekly review. Since then, she's continued the series. "The Headhunter's Daughter" was published last year.

And now comes the third book in the series: "The Boy Who Stole the Leopard's Spots" (William Morrow; $14.99.) Set in the Belgian Congo of 1958, it, too, is winning warm reviews. "Edge-ofyour-seat tragicomedy," Booklist says.

Myers will read and sign copies of her book 7 p.m. May 24 at Park Road Books, 4139 Park Road.