[applause] [applause] [cheering] i dont want you to be intimidated, but i practiced these jazz hands for ten minutes backstage. Thats not actually a joke and that is the scary thing about it. Good evening and welcome to the 2018 pen america literary awards. Thank you for being here. [applause] honestly im thrilled to be here, very honored to celebrate the mission to protect Free Expression everywhere. Yes you should clap for Free Expression. It is honestly a weird time to be protecting Free Expression. I know that you are thinking but sally it is so obviously not under threat right now. [laughter] certainly not here in the United States of america. I mean, obviously free speech is so free, we have fake speech now. Seriously, i am honored to be here. It is such a big deal. There are so many incredible and important authors that grace us with their words and ideas this year, brilliant visionary inspired writers and of course im talking about ivanka. [laughter] the jokes dont get any bett