Award-Winning Author Viruca Yebra to Present Novel in Estepona

Estepona residents can meet acclaimed author Viruca Yebra and learn about her award-winning novel ‘Te fuiste y empezó mi vida’ at Casa de Las Tejerinas

Estepona residents have an opportunity to meet an acclaimed author next week when Viruca Yebra presents her latest novel. The award-winning journalist and writer will be at Casa de Las Tejerinas to discuss ‘Te fuiste y empezó mi vida’, a book that has earned her a prestigious international literary prize.

The presentation will take place on Thursday 12 November at 7:00 PM. Viruca Yebra will be joined by the Mayor of Estepona, José María García Urbano, and local journalist and writer, Teresa Floro.

About the Novel

‘Te fuiste y empezó mi vida’ explores fundamental themes such as belonging, freedom, the weight of tradition, sentimental education, fidelity to one's conscience, and the challenging task of maintaining dignity when destiny seems to impose itself with irresistible force.

The Virginia Woolf Award

Viruca Yebra received the Premio Internacional de Literatura ‘Virginia Woolf’ 2026 for this novel and her overall literary career. The award, established in 2017 by Grupo Editorial Sial Pigmalión, distinguishes female authors who have excelled in poetry, narrative, or essay, and champions the legacy of Virginia Woolf, a key figure in 20th-century literary modernism and feminist thought.

Synopsis

The novel's synopsis describes the life of Emily Vignaud, who at fifteen moves to live with her Muslim grandparents in Beirut after her French doctor father dies. Her world changes dramatically as her grandfather, deeply rooted in tradition, takes control. Fortunately, Emily finds support in her grandmother, Mamá Alice, a woman with a strong personality and fascinating past, who helps her pursue her dreams.

The story is set against the backdrop of Lebanon's golden age – its modern, cosmopolitan, prosperous, and glamorous period. Readers will experience heartbreak, betrayal, economic hardship, abundance, unconditional love, and war alongside the protagonist. While Lebanon, known as the paradise of the Middle East, provides an exotic setting, Emily's strong and entrepreneurial spirit develops in post-war existentialist and bohemian Paris. The novel aims to portray real life, as told by the characters themselves, with their complexities, convictions, and fears, rather than judging them. As the 'Paris of the Middle East' gradually fades, characters enter a cycle of hatred and revenge, and Lebanon's carefree society moves inevitably towards a brutal, endless war.

About the Author

Born Elvira Yebra Villanueva in Sarria, Lugo, in 1959, Viruca Yebra began her career in journalism while studying, working in the Press Office of the UCD National Headquarters. After an internship at the newspaper ABC, she became head of the Social Life section, where she spent much of her career. Her professional path also includes serving as Press Chief for the President of the Xunta de Galicia and as the Galician government's delegate in Madrid. Her involvement in social, cultural, and women's issues led her to found numerous clubs and associations. In literature, Yebra's previous works include ‘El fuego de flamboyán’, a historical account of Galician emigration to Cuba, and ‘La última condesa nazi’.