Available now: Gemini The Eighth Book of The House of Niccolo Dorothy Dunnett Dorothy Dunnett's U.S. Tour

I don't want to go home.

I've had one of the best weekends of my life in Philadelphia, celebrating the publication of Gemini along with 225 readers, some from the USA, but others from Canada or Bavaria, England, Ireland, and South Africa. I've heard Larry Silver, Professor and Graduate Chair, History of Art, University of Pennsylvania, ruminate delightfully on the art of Renaissance Bruges, as it related to the Niccolò books, and a quiet contemplation by Cleo Kearns, of the Department of English, Rutgers University, of the Niccolò series, examined for its claims to epic properties.

I have attended a hilarious, witty--and thoughtful--spoof opera on the series, fittingly called "The Nikado" and masterminded by Cindy Byrne and Simon Hedges with a team of magnificent helpers. As a result, I am now (officially) an Honorary Naxette--i.e. one of the three ladies of dubious repute from Naxos who star in the opera--and possess an alluring necklace, a fan and (on its way) a red feather boa to sustain the part.

I have also been granted Special Membership to the DDNR, or Dorothy Dunnett Non-Reader Society, organised by Walter Silberstein, whose wife Nancy has initiated and run the entire gathering. It is a special satisfaction, for I have long been campaigning to join the DDNRs, which consist of sensible husbands who would prefer stimulating excursions (to golf courses? distilleries?) to accompanying their wives to Dunnett talks. I suspect that, at times, the guys have more fun.

On the other hand, nothing could have been more wonderful, for me, than the way the weekend ended--with a shower of gifts. There was, incredibly, a grand silver pedestal bowl, gifted by all who attended, which I shall cherish forever.

And then, equally to be treasured, three books. One, wonderfully bound, is a collection of the best (printable) poems, comments, limericks that have appeared on the private web site called Dunnettwork, over the many years of its existence. And secondly, from Marzipan, the other chief English-speaking web site on Dunnett, two bound volumes of letters, each telling how and when and where the writer first found my books.

How can one repay thoughfulness such as that? But I came away with something more precious--the happiness of knowing I have so many friends, and through me, they have found one another.

I don't know what writing can be for, that is much more important than that.

--Dorothy Dunnett