It is proof of Jennifer Johnston's lasting popularity that when she launched her new novel, Two Moons, on Wednesday in Fred Hanna's bookshop, it was already in fifth place on the best-seller lists. Nell McCafferty certainly gave it a double thumbs up, describing how she was first introduced to Johnston's work when she asked for "a Jennifer Johnston, a home-baked apple tart and a pot of coffee" for her birthday in Doolin in 1977. There was a generous clatter of Johnston relations there as well as a host of friends and fans. Playwright Sebastian Barry was there with his wife Allison - although Sebastian's play Our Lady of Sligo opens at the Gate theatre next week, he will be on a tour running through six US cities in a week, promoting his latest novel, The Whereabouts of Eneas McNulty. Other writers there included playwright Bernard Farrell, about to tackle a new play, and Hugo Hamilton, who is off to London this week to publicise his new novel, Sad Bastard. There was also a brace of editors - Geraldine Cooke from Jennifer's new publishers, Review, who have just signed up Ferdia MacAnna's next book, and Antony Farrell of Lilliput Press. Antony was accompanied by a couple of his more colourful authors - Laurence Taylor, chairman of anthropology at Maynooth, and Mim Scalo, a record producer for the likes of Stevie Winwood, Simply Red and Donovan.