Writer Armistead Maupin returns to his North Carolina roots with appearances this week in Durham and Charlotte.

The writer of the "Tales of the City" series speaks Wednesday at the Carolina Theatre in Durham as part of an event organized by the Durham County Library. He speaks Thursday at Charlotte's Novello Festival of Reading.

The 64-year-old writer began his groundbreaking "Tales of the City" series in The San Francisco Chronicle in 1976. The story involving several gay characters eventually became six novels.

Last year, Maupin published "Michael Tolliver Lives," and he's starting a new book, "Mary Ann in Autumn."