Biography
Irene Rega Jul has published two novels in the Galician language to date. Deep Cuts (2022) won the Illa Nova Award for Fiction, which is awarded to authors under the age of 35. It is about a teenage girl, Mariña, who is bullied at school. One day, she disappears, and the police undertake an investigation. The fear she used to experience is now transferred to the whole town where she lives, especially to those with a guilty conscience. This was followed in 2023 by Weaving Nets, winner of the Vilar Ponte Award for Novels, a murder mystery in which Verónica is due to share an office with the person who ruined her life, but this person then turns up dead and Verónica becomes the principal suspect. She has also published two books in Spanish: If I Get Lost, You Find Me (2018) and If I Get Lost, Look for Me (2019).
Synopsis
Deep Cuts (212 pages) is Irene Rega Jul’s debut novel in the Galician language and won the Illa Nova Award for Fiction, awarded to writers under the age of 35, in its sixth edition. It comprises a preface, 27 shortish chapters and an epilogue. Mariña has disappeared. She was supposed to spend the afternoon at home, but when her mother arrives home in the evening, she isn’t there. Her mother decides to contact the police.
Sample
MARIÑA
Last seen today at 14:53
‘I’m on my way home, what’s for lunch?’ (14:35)
Voice call 3 mins 5 secs (14:37)
‘I’ve just got back, darling, where are you?’ (17:37)
Audio transcription (angry voice):
‘Mariña, where are you? You told me you’d be home all afternoon’ (18:03)
2 missed calls (18:14)
Audio transcription:
‘I’m starting to get worried. It says you saw my first message, why won’t you pick up? Where are you? Mariña, please’ (18:54)
5 missed calls (19:01)
‘Pick up your phone right now, I’m about to call the police. Where are you?’ (19:16)
1 missed call. Phone switched off or out of service (19:18)
‘I’m going to the police. Please, call me when you see these messages’ (19:19)
Portico of Galician Literature 