DIANA GABALDON
Author of the Outlander series of historic adventure novels.

    Tuna fish.

    For Diana Gabaldon one little sandwich sparked a romance that has lasted 26 years.

    In 1972, Gabaldon and her husband, Doug Watkins met in the French-horn section of the Northern Arizona University marching band. A Flagstaff girl, she invited him home for lunch one day and found nothing but tuna in the pantry.

    But she made the sandwich to his specifications — Bumble Bee chunk tuna, mayonnaise, pickle relish, Roman Meal whole-wheat bread, and served on a colorful plate left over from the days when her parents operated a Mexican restaurant. He was impressed. "This is the first time anyone cared how I like my food," he told her.

    She was 20; he was 21. They began dating and married five years later.

     Gabaldon, who holds degrees in zoology and biology and a doctorate in ecology, writes novels that really can't be described as "romance" but are full of passion.

     Her sexy stories are customarily set in 18th-century Scotland and described with such words as "smart, historical, sci-fi, adventure-romance."

     Her idea of a romantic evening is to watch her husband drag racing, one of his passions. He also works as a developer of commercial real-estate properties.

     Her idea of romance is "anything you do together."

     And her idea of a romantic meal is something that can be prepared ahead "so you can sit around, sip wine and be congenial."

     She recommends her enchiladas — rich and spicy: "It makes the blood flow."