Gabaldon in Auckland for lunch

Diana Gabaldon, who has drawn readers worldwide for what she calls a series of "weird books", will be the guest speaker at a Herald-Dymocks literary lunch in Auckland next month.

Gabaldon, born and raised in Arizona with Yorkshire and Germany also part of her heritage, has become famous for her Cross Stitch series, a romantic and historical saga revolving around an 18th century Scotsman and his time-travelling wife.

They are set in the Highlands and pre-revolutionary America.

Gabaldon, who trained as a scientist, has published five volumes in the series since 1991 and is one of America's most popular fiction writers.

The literary lunch will be held at the Winter Garden at the Civic on Friday, September 27.