IT'S every young writer's dream to be given a substantial advance for a book not yet written but for Antonia Logue it became a reality. She was only 22 when thrust into the media spotlight with a big advance from Bloomsbury, after they'd seen a mere six pages.
Three years later and the media was glaring once again as her long-awaited novel Shadow-Box was launched at Waterstone's in Dawson Street on Wednesday. Though billed on the blackboard outside for a 6.30 p.m. start, the young author was late arriving, fraying the nerves of some in the crowd, a few of whom had to leave before she began reading. Jennifer Johnston, who knew Logue from Derry, spoke at the event. Being asked to launch a book "is rather like being asked to be a godparent", she quipped. Poet Derek Mahon, various Bloomsbury personnel over from London, Ronan Farren, literary editor at the Sunday Independent, where Logue began writing fiction reviews shortly after leaving college, and writer Eamonn Sweeney were in the throng, the latter being Antonia's constant companion who is thanked in her Acknowledgements "for his love and encouragement throughout".
Other writers included Eamon Delaney, Mike McCormack and Emma Donoghue as well as film-maker Johnny O'Reilly, who is editing a short film at the moment, and actor Mario Rosenstock, the glamorous doctor from Glenroe.
There were some fashion designers in the midst of all the literati. Niall Tyrell and Donald Brennan of Oakes have recently completed an outfit for Logue for her appearance on Kenny Live.
When the formal proceedings were over, the crowd adjourned to the upstairs of the Duke across the road. Next stop is a civic reception in the Guildhall in Derry hosted by the Lord Mayor of Derry to celebrate her incredible success.