National Novel Award


The National Novel Award is one of the main literary awards given annually in Bolivia. It is convened by the Ministry of Cultures, and originally sponsored by Grupo Santillana, through the Alfaguara publishing house. It was established in 1998 to promote the dissemination of Bolivian literature in the novel genre and better awareness of its authors.
All persons of Bolivian nationality who reside in the country, excluding authors awarded the previous two years, authorities, public officials, and Santillana employees, can qualify for the award. A jury composed of prominent members of the Bolivian and international literary and cultural world selects the winner.
In practice, it replaced the Erich Guttentag Award, which was organized by Los Amigos del Libro publishing house. Honorable mentions have been granted in some years.
In 2012, the prize was 89,300 bolivianos. Of the total sum, the Ministry of Cultures contributed 22,800 Bs., the Embassy of Spain 21,000, Banco Sol 21,000, BBA Previsión AFP 10,500, Red ATB 7,000, and Grupo Santilllana with the same amount.

Winners

YearNovelAuthorDepartment
1999La vida me duele sin vosGonzalo Lema
2000Alguien más a cargoCé Mendizábal
2001Magdalena en el ParaísoTito Gutiérrez Vargas
2002
2003El delirio de TuringEdmundo Paz Soldán
2004La gula del picaflor
2005La doncella del barón CementerioEduardo Scott-Moreno
2006El agorero de salLuisa Fernanda Siles
2007Fantasmas asesinosWilmer Urrelo
2008La toma del manuscritoSebastián Antezana-
2009He de morir de cosas asíEduardo Scott-Moreno
2010La noche como un alaMáximo Pacheco Balanza
2011Diario secretoClaudio Ferrufino-Coqueugniot
2012En el fondo tu ausenciaRosario Barahona
2013Pasado por salCé Mendizábal
2014El sonido de la HMagela Baudoin-
2015La Guerra del PapelOswaldo Calatayud
2017Soundtrack; glosario de términos relacionados
2018Días detenidosGuillermo Augusto Ruiz Plaza

YearNovelAuthorDepartment
1999Altiplano Express
2000Huesos y cenizasMáximo Pacheco Balanza
2003Periférica BoulevardAdolfo Cárdenas Franco
2006Retrato de ciudad con calavera en manoMáximo Pacheco Balanza
2007Los ingenuosVerónica Ormachea Gutiérrez
2007Mundo putoRoberto Cuevas
2008La virgen de los deseos
2010Lluvia de piedra
2017La ceguera del jaguar