In April 2026, Nelio was named to the Forbes “30 Under 30” list. In between numerous readings, interviews, and his first major TV appearances - such as on the prestigious talk show 3 nach 9 - Nelio is already making room for his next book.

He writes intuitively, by hand. His profound knowledge of literature flows naturally into his ideas and drafts. He develops his characters and their stories with deep empathy, often discovering their true depths only as the writing unfolds.

His debut, Anton will bleiben (Anton Wants to Stay), was published in 2023 by the Swiss publisher Arisverlag. Nelio tells the story of an elderly man suffering from cancer who refuses to be forgotten. Through tender gestures and interpersonal connections, he rediscovers the meaning of his existence. With this work, Nelio achieved his first major success as a young author in Switzerland.

He made his international breakthrough in 2025 after moving to the renowned Rowohlt Berlin publishing house with his epic novel Lázár. Inspired by his own family history, the novel depicts the decline of an aristocratic family over several generations. Since its release, Lázár has captivated a global audience, selling approximately 200,000 copies in the first four months alone. The masterpiece won the 2025 "Favorite Book" award from independent bookstores (Lieblingsbuch der Unabhängigen), received a nomination for the Swiss Book Prize that same year, and was honored with the 2026 Literature Prize of the German Economy (Literaturpreis der deutschen Wirtschaft) as one of the outstanding voices of contemporary literature.

Acclaimed director Tom Tykwer has acquired the film rights to Lázár, and the movie is currently in development.