Portuguese author Nuno Camarneiro, 35, was awarded the 2012 LeYa Prize for his novel Debaixo de algum céu [Under some sky].  The literary prize is worth Euro100,000. More than 270 original works by Portuguese language authors entered the competition.

The annual prize, created to distinguish an unpublished work written in Portuguese, was established by the publishing group LeYa with more than a dozen publishing houses in Portugal, Angola, Mozambique and Brazil.  The awarded unpublished novel by Camarneiro will be available in March 2013.

Born in Figueira da Foz, Camarneiro published fiction in collections and magazines before publishing his first novel , No meu peito não cabem pássaros,  [Birds don’t fit inside my chest].

Acording to the auhtor, the book addresses the idea of “purgatory.” The action takes place inside an apartment building where, during the week between Christmas and New Year, each tenant experiences a personal turmoil.

Camarneiro, who has lived abroad in Switzerland and Italy, does research and has taught at the University of Aveiro and the University of Porto,

Members of the awarding jury, presided by Manuel Alegre (Portugal), included Nuno Júdice (Portugal), Pepetela (Mozambique), José Castello (Portugal), José Carlos Seabra Pereira (Portugal), Lourenço do Rosário (Mozambique) and Rita Chaves (Brazil).

Established in 2008, the LeYa Prize is the largest literary award  for Portuguese language authors.

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