National Novel Award Explained

The National Novel Award (Premio Nacional de Novela) is one of the main literary awards given annually in Bolivia. It is convened by the Ministry of Cultures,^[1] 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.^{[2] [3]}

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 .^[2] 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.^[4]

Winners

List of winners of the National Novel Award

Year	Novel	Author	Department
1999	La vida me duele sin vos
2000	Alguien más a cargo
2001	Magdalena en el Paraíso
2002
2003	El delirio de Turing
2004	La gula del picaflor
2005	La doncella del barón Cementerio
2006	El agorero de sal
2007	Fantasmas asesinos
2008	La toma del manuscrito		-
2009	He de morir de cosas así
2010	La noche como un ala
2011	Diario secreto
2012	En el fondo tu ausencia
2013	Pasado por sal
2014	El sonido de la H[5]		-
2015	La Guerra del Papel[6]
2017	Soundtrack; glosario de términos relacionados[7]
2018	Días detenidos[8]

List of Honorable Mentions

Year	Novel	Author	Department
1999	Altiplano Express
2000	Huesos y cenizas	Máximo Pacheco Balanza
2003	Periférica Blvd.	Adolfo Cárdenas Franco
2006	Retrato de ciudad con calavera en mano	Máximo Pacheco Balanza
2007	Los ingenuos
2007	Mundo puto	Roberto Cuevas
2008	La virgen de los deseos
2010	Lluvia de piedra
2017	La ceguera del jaguar

Notes and References

1. Web site: Culturas galardona a estudiantes de primaria y secundaria . Cultures Awards Primary and Secondary School Students . . Spanish . 20 October 2015 . 30 October 2017.
2. News: María del Rosario Barahona gana el Premio Nacional de Novela 2012 . María del Rosario Barahona Wins the 2012 National Novel Award . Quiroz . Mauricio . . La Paz . Spanish . 29 November 2012 . 30 October 2017.
3. Web site: Premios y Concursos Nacionales . National Awards and Contests . Bolivian Viceministry of Cultural Development . Spanish . 30 October 2017.
4. News: Este jueves se devela el Premio Nacional de Novela 2012 . The National Novel Award is Unveiled This Thursday . Quiroz . Mauricio . . La Paz . Spanish . 28 November 2012 . 30 October 2017.
5. News: La periodista Magela Baudoin, con 'El sonido de la H', obtiene el Premio Nacional de Novela 2014 . The Journalist Magela Baudoin, With 'El sonido de la H', Obtains the 2014 National Novel Award . . La Paz . ABI . Spanish . 9 December 2014 . 30 October 2017.
6. News: Calatayud gana el Premio de Novela con La guerra del papel . Calatayud Wins the Novel Award with La Guerra del Papel . Cazas . Anahí . . La Paz . Spanish . 29 June 2016 . 30 October 2017.
7. News: Camila Urioste gana el premio nacional de novela de Bolivia con 'Soundtrack' . Camila Urioste Wins the National Novel Award of Bolivia with 'Soundtrack' . . La Paz . 10 November 2017 . 9 January 2019.
8. News: Ruiz, el paceño es Premio Nacional de Novela con 'Días detenidos' . Ruiz, from La Paz, is National Novel Award Winner with 'Días detenidos' . Paola . Chavez . . Spanish . 3 December 2018 . 9 January 2019.