Its a big night for the National Book foundation, for literature, culture, the big night for all of us. Whenever i have the opportunity to stand in front of people i always mention my mothers name, irma jean christin. She is the reason i like to say about my mother i am th imed amm because she is the woman she is or was. My mother was my first teacher. My mother graduated from college the age of 17 the first person i17 in the firstperson in her fo college for me to be a wellknown literary advocate in this nation, a place where only a few generations ago it would have been illegal for me to read is no small thing. [applause] literature is the birthright of every single one of us if you can read in at least one language you are in my definition free. That is to say no one can pull the wool over your eyes are give you what they want to call alternative facts and convince you what you know to be true is in fact not true at all. If you can read at least one language, you have the wherewithal to educate yourself to be a self educated, a learner for life. Literature and its place in civilization is unparalleled. Its the stories we tell each other that define who we are, why we are here, what our mission is in life. It is the story that holds our civilization together and we are going to begin tonight by honoring the foundations Lifetime Achievement nominees and the first of these honorees is receiving the award for Outstanding Service to the American Literary community, a person which has given and approving a remarkable dedication to expanding the audience for books and reading. Last year they honored the foundation and other past winners include my angela, scholastic robinson, david kurz, sesame streams own and tonights honoree is exceptional as well in his service to the Literary Community and to introduce him, the author of eight novels including state of wonder, and a special affinity for short story is hosting a podcast where i read a short story [laughter] thank you. [laughter] the importance came to my attention with a copy that sits on my bedroom at home in los angeles with a stack of some of my favorite books. The winner of so many prizes including the falconer award, the orange prize for fiction, the work translated into more than 30 languages and named one of the 100 most influential people on the planet, by Time Magazine and in her spare time a coowner of the books in nashville tennessee. It is a pleasure to bring to the stage ive had a lot of friends ask me why im getting on another plane at the end of a very long book tour to fly back to new dark indigo to the National Book award and i told them i was asked to present the literary award for Outstanding Service to the Literary Community, and i was pretty much go anywhere to have the chance to say nice things about orrin considering all the wonderful things he has done for me, considering all the wonderful things he has done for all of us. And every single friend that i have said this to has been quiet for a minute and then says who . Of course this wouldnt be true. She never asked me this, nor did louise or any of my other beloved bookselling siblings. Hand they know like i do which is to say very well. But to many people in the industry, he is the man behind the curtain at the american booksellers association. He has been working on behalf of the independent bookstores for more than 25 years. He has made us stronger, more practical, more united, more expensive and i would place the bet he has been in more bookstores in this country than any other person ever and he is treated ahestreated as equally. Hes fought for our rights as a smallbusiness ownersmallbusina passionate lover of literature he fostered the community through his leadership. Every year at christmas he goes and works in a bookstore. He worked at my bookstore and i am here to tell you, this is a guy that knows how to sell a book. It brings me to no end to find out that the start as a senior staffer in congress and then went on to work for the march of dimes before coming here. This is the perfect Training Ground for someone that would leave booksellers as we are a weird combination of politics and big hearted charity. Hes seen us through box stores, amazon, financial downturns and never once gave up. Instead he helped us reinvent ourselves to fit the times and he was one of the leaders for the local thrift initiative, thank you very much. There was a time you never would have seen a bookseller served as a judge for an important award like this one even though booksellers read pretty much around the clock and we have or anything for that as well. As he steps away from this job, he is leaving us so much better and stronger than he has found us and for everything i am so grateful. But i also want to say that there is a lesson in this tonight. If you do not know orrin, you need to spend time with your local booksellers and with the american booksellers associati association. And when you are called to service, answer the call because independent booksellers play an outsider role in holding up writers and publishing and they deserve our respect and support. If retirement doesnt suit you, brother, opened a bookstore. You would be so fantastic at it and if you are not ready to open your own, come and work here. We love you, i love you, thank you for everything. Ladies and gentlemen. [applause] [cheering] good evening. First of all, let me of course express my extraordinary thanks and appreciation to and patrick for that incredible introduction. I told her just before she came up you dont allow somebody to introduce you to youve already introduced at other events. Of course most of you in this room know her as one of americas best loved writers but those of us in the bookselling Community Know her as a colleague, as an intrepid advocate for bookstores who inspired us everyday. Thank you for what you do and of course for being such a good friend to me and book stores all across the country. Thank you very much. [applause] i would like to thank the National Book foundation particularly my friends david steinberger, morgan, marcus, caroline and of course the incomparable lisa lucas for this extraordinary honor. When lisa called me some months ago to tell me my selection, i was in a word dumbfounded. I have grown a little bit more. I kind of like the sound but for one moment the impact of this extraordinary special recognition will never diminish. I am most grateful. Im humbled ti am humbled to beg this tonight in the company of americas best writers. I congratulate all of the nominees for tonights awards. Like all of you i am eagerly looking forward to the announcement of the winners though in my book each and every one of you is a winner for the remarkable craft that you bring to your work. [applause] i want to acknowledge my friends in the publishing and Distribution Community that are here tonight. I have had the privilege of working with so many of you for so many years and while we may not always agree on everything, i am convinced the partnership between publishers and independent booksellers has forged a kind of stronger Book Community that has spread the joy of reading to millions of americans and i thank you for that. I want to also acknowledge tonight the presence of my kids. They have been on this journey with me for virtually their entire lives. Of course on occasions like this we know how much we miss some of the present with us but i know she is smiling down on us tonight. I want to thank my bookselling family represented by jamie from flyaway books north carolina. My senior staff colleagues jolie and dan and of course five booksellers who served on this years judging committees, mark, john and kristin. We are grateful to the National Book foundation for including booksellers on the panel. Working on behalf of the indie booksellers these past years has been a dream job. Ive never ever not wanted to go to work. The creativity, ingenuity and resilience of booksellers is nothing less than remarkable. Though i know the National Book foundation has singled me out tonight for this award for which i am sincerely humbled, i accept it on behalf of the thousands of booksellers all across the country who every day thousands and thousands of times perform a special act of magic by placing the right book in a readers hands. Whether it entertains, teaches or inspires it makes the world a better place and for me to have been associated with that magic has been the highlight of my professional life. I was asked recently about what it was about my job that i liked the most and i knew the answer almost immediately. I responded by saying i have a good friend in every town and city in america but alone around the world and in the words of the poet think where mans glory most begins and ends and i say my glory was i had such remarkable friends. Thank you for this honor. [applause] there is a metal that goes along with your honor. I dont want you to leave the stage without it. [laughter] [applause] the second Lifetime Achievement award tonight will be the medal for distinguished contribution to american letters. Previous winners include stephen king, maxine kingston, tom wolfe and the late greats Tony Morrison whose work will leave on in the dna of readers, writers and thinkers for generations to come. Its given to a writer who over the course of their career has ranged in which threw their bodies of work into tonight the honoree in his books have had an extraordinary impact on the generations as well. As our dear departed said if you cant find the book you want to read, you must write it. Its a nice honor he has been walking the talk bringing the literary to another group of human beings marginalized by hetero normative america and to present to him the author of nine books the best title of which is to be mr. Know it all but tarnished wisdom, hes a photographer and has been shown all over the world. Hes made 16 films. There are storytellers and then storytellers storytellers. Ladies and gentlemen it gives me a great pleasure to introduce to the stage a genius storyteller, david waters. John waters. Thank you, thank you so much. [cheering] distinguished contribution to american letter hes certainly done that and weimar. Evan white helped start the Health Crisis and is an aids activist, survivor and still loves sex. Hes written so many memoirs mighmystruggle seems dingy in te details. [laughter] hes pisse pissed off suzanne ae but now in the world is a better place for it. Edmund stillwell said its scary and h he is rich in has writtene about childrens books. Think of the wisdom he could share with kids. [laughter] he explained to intellectuals everywhere in 1977 that the bias against is unreasonable. Maybe its time he translates this in a less threatening way for the next generation of young readers. [laughter] it seems he has won and deserved more awards than meryl streep it never makes the public feel stupid unless they are lying in front of the tv not reading. Edmund white is self depreciating it proud, optimistic when things seem disastrous and he reveals more in his books about his personal life than seems possible, sensible or correct and my god how hes kept his sanity. Weve read about his parents in his memoir of his resiliency is all inspiring. He speaks death several times but still looks today for love online. Hes lived long enough to know the difference [inaudible] yet he accepts the facts are used to have sex with seven different people a week and nowe need seven lawyers to ask even one person for a date. [laughter] he is an American Writer who dared write that affinity biography of french literary icon and still get rave reviews. Am i the only one of the readers that likes the later work even more than the first . Give me 2003 over the 1982 story any day. I know a little bit of the 1950s coming out thats not a thing abouthe thing that the fen the early 18 hundreds he wrote about here. Have you read unpublished vice published in 2018 . Good god, and an exhausting book list an extraordinary reader consumed that will make you hungry to following the blueprint and do the same. Its the perfect fetish when he is your literary. My favorite of all the books my lai was published in 2005 it even shocked me. [laughter] read the chapter my master. Too much information its even better because there isnt enough shame. Its amazing. What did your age and think when he first read it, i first asked. What could she have possibly thought about, and the kids at thatthe prison didnthavepresent reading the details of their teachers kinky affairs, he laughed and said my students never got around to reading my book. I wasnt worried. Edmund white is beyond a dignified and guess over the top distinguished as the award acknowledges that he is disreputable and remains delightful. This honor comes with a 10,000dollar prize you know hes going to spend it on books. Hes made an exceptional impact on the literary heritage as a National Book foundation stated that sounds a little high bowling for me. Im here to add he has done the same for me the book buying games the last 46 years, 28 bucks and they are all really good. This room tonight is definitely not empty and we salute you. As a kid i used to say what do you want, and thatll . Im here tonight saying the same thing. Here it is, come on up here and get it. [applause] [cheering] writers love to complain about how difficult it is to write. Maybe they feel guilty about not having a fulltime job where they must be to come you at, sit through endless meetings, forgo naps, enjoy only two week vacations and stay sober at least during the day. In reality, nothing could be as bad as office works out writers pretend in their interviews to write eight hours a day. And then claim to slave over five drafts which is unbelievable. Only confusion and bad decisions could account for more than three drafts. They once remarked writing fiction is not a fulltime job. Only writers as prolific can claim it is. The rest of us observe other peoples books and write too many emails. How else to do with the obligatory eight hours. Pornography, cooking and adultery are other ways. [laughter] [applause] and of course drinking. I once read so many writers are alcoholics because they can get away with it. Im not denying that i had my struggles with after four novels i managed to get a fifth published and that was through the intervention convinced random house to take it after they had already rejected it. In our culture we ignore beginning writers and honor the experienced excessively. When i started submitting novels in the 1960s, my subject matter was offensive especially since i didnt write about hustlers or criminals or drag queens that the middleclass guy sharing an office with you. The familiar is more threatening than the exotic. Years later various editors would tell me that they had been moved by mice at missions but havent dared to accept them unless their colleagues would think they themselves were gay. My First Published novel red gay only to someone with xray vision. My second, knock turns for the king maples was damned in the New York Times book review for being too obviously gay, explicit according to that critic had e. Clips to whatever small talent i might have had. It was only my fifth published book that was favorably received. Harpers magazine in england once declared me the most maligned man in america and now that is no longer true if it ever was. [laughter] today im happy to say that there are many brilliant gay writers. Andrew sean greer and there was another masterpiece in manuscript. The hit play on broadway, allen one to occur aboard and in my opinion is the best novelist, period come in the uk. Even people who are not gay are willing to write about gay men like on the way. Now everything is so confused that my forthcoming novel a saint from texas is about a nine and a baroness who are only gay around the edges. [laughter] when i first started getting published in the 1970s, writers on oddly enough are the only visible and now tv series and major films and the celebrities are usually or a gay or if they are up to speed, transgender or gender fluid. Gay subject matter represented in every genre. There are still many. It seems they are rewriting American History and turning the Founding Fathers into the founding mothers. Where, one wonders, are the gay villains, mad scientists, even the National Book award has seen fit to honor a gay novelist and for that i am very grateful. To go from being the most maligned in a mere half a century is indeed. I would like to thank my next novel and the love of my life, my husband of 25 years and always my first reader, my sister, margaret, john waters for three decades of friendship and that hilarious introduction, my agent, my publicist, the great features and of the arts that is with us tonight and my wonderful editor. Thank you. [applause] Edmund Valentine 3. [applause] valentine is his middle name. Went to the University Class of 62. My daughter and my money both went to michigan. [laughter] we will now break for dinner and for those of you watching the live stream of tonights ceremony stay tuned for the halftime show. I understand it will be condi a west and donald trump sitting not breathing. [laughter] to announce the winners of the 70th National Book awards. Enjoy the meal. [applause] esteemed guests, please welcome lisa lucas, executive director of the National Book foundation and david steinberger, chairman of the board of the National Book foundation. [applause] here we are again. I am lisa lucas executive director of the National Book foundation. And im david steinberger, chairman of the board of directors. [applause] 70 years of the National Book awards which of course means this is the 70th time publishers, authors, editors, readers, librarians, booksellers and everyone involved in the magic of speaking and sharing and protecting of books have gathered together for the singular occasion. Of course we will find out which five books will be added to the 70yearold list the first one to take a moment to think about what all these decades of recognizing great literature meant both for books at large and the readers all around the country. Over the years the National Book awards have become a true tradition. We gather at the ceremony year after year and a lafayette literature recognizing the importance of colorful writing, talented authors and the readers whose lives are touched by the books we celebrate. But tonight is not only a moment to look back at the 70 years of the awards, its a moment to think about where we are and who we are right now by being here tonight or joining us on our live stream you are helping us to further the mission of the National Book foundation which im now going to read it to you because i cant get enough of the mission. The mission of the National Book foundation is to celebrate the best literature in america, to expand its audience and ensure books have a prominent place in american culture. How about a hand for that mission. [applause] the National Book foundation is most wellknown for these awards for this night but the Foundation Works yearround through its education and Public Programs with the words of the Power Sources and center of the work to build readers and to start conversations. I think its pretty obvious since the years of 1950s its been transformational for the awards. Leading up to the anniversary year we took a crazy deep dive into the archives looking at pictures, videos, past winners can even just looking at the photos alone from the 50s in the 70s and 90s you can see how much has changed since we began this work but one thing that has not changed the National Book awards have always stood for excellence but what was once in solar is now unifying and what was once exclusive is now an inclusive and at the work that we do today allows us to showcase with the American Experience of the world at large and it reminds us of our shared humanitys. Tonight we celebrate the potential to transform and to start the next 70 years we hope that future in which a transformative work is everywhere and reaching everyo everyone. We will be back in a moment but for now we are going to hear from a few of the many offers a. Good evening. I welcome you to the 51st, 68th National Book award. I do not wish to minimize the difficulty the author faces and being faithful to his talent the very fact that these awards are given today is the recognition of a struggle to maintain a high standard. This is a huge big deal. Tonight promises to be a beautiful evening in which we will celebrate some of the finest writings of the year. It is a thrill to be acknowledged as well as a confirmation that doing what you love and sharing what you love can bring many rewards. Entry requires you to be an athlete of the heart. Resistance and change often begins with art and very often is the art of words. A warrant izero boards in generg attention to books we may not know of or that we may have dismissed. The nominee enjoys every minute of this fleeting and at the same time permanent acknowledgment of your very considerable gift. When we are thinking about books, we have to remember opportunity and options. Its constantly bringing writers out to communities where people might be dreaming of writing thats not. Dreaming to read but not daring to ask for books. Id signals this is a book presented by a smart group of people and i should really read it. I think every time a book is recognized in a broadway there is a moment. Its not just about entertainment. Reading is about educating citizens. The specific lesson as well. The civilization needs to have an enduring commitment to books. Storytelling is part of our dna. Its part of our destiny. There is a reader in every single book and cranny of this country and our mission is to celebrate the best literature in america to widen the audience and make sure books remain relevant. The National Book foundation is like a yearlong party for boo books. Theyve reached all sorts of different audiences. We work with young people in our program. We work with young people and families in Public Housing communities across 25 states and we work with Publishing Partners to secure the quantities of books that are able to go directly into the homes of children and families. Anything that is protecting books that emphasize the vitality of the story itself is like we need stories, we need literature. There is a transformation in the children have benefited from the program. Many people recognize that they dont always recognize how much work it takes to keep that alive. I think that it will exist 70 years from now but it will evolve as it has evolved over the past years. I hope that we have time to strengthen and keep supporting authors and to keep reminding everybody. The foundations work is based on a simple premise the book and recognition matters but the reality is doing this work is an enormous undertaking covered by so many people to whom we are grateful. So we would like to take a moment now to think some of th them. The National Endowment for the arts and the new York City Department of cultural affairs. We also work with an enormous number of Program Partners around the country and to them, we are very thankful. And of course everything here looks pretty nice. We are grateful to the designers, to the video team and the absolutely amazing printing funds. [applause] we are also enormously grateful to the sponsors and we could not do this without the sponsors a special thank you to barnes and noble apple, amazon letter a partnership, facebook, the Book Publishing division our esteemed book award judges and to all of you tonight. Thank you to the extraordinary Foundation Staff and the executive director lisa lucas. Thank you, lisa. [applause] its true there are just nine of us that work at the National Book foundation with the talent, time, passion for giving regularly a very special thank you to the award team and especially to anna doggett. Together weve produced these awards and brought authors to 49 Different Community events with over 1 million free books to children and families livin in n Public Housing. [applause] it is easy to forget the National Book foundation o witha budget of 2 million at this program you will find a contribution envelope please take a moment to locate it. We can wait these envelopes have always been in the program and we always ask for people to consider filling them out and sending money. Last year we got a total of one envelope. So i would like to think that person. [laughter] like the other people to reconsider. We have a bigger one tonight and just one as you might hope. Do you think we could do something the envelopes tonight . How many of you your job is paid fojobs paidfor you to be here t . If every baby gave us 70 that would be over 50,000 that would cover the shipping for every book we sent to Public Housing this year. Thats it. 50,000. And it would get us halfway. There are thousands and thousands watching online and with the power of everybody combined we could probably surpass the goal so if you are watching online you can visit National Book. Org. For those of you here tonight if you dont have a checkbook or credit card handy, no problem just write your name, email and pledge any amount into the foundation will be in contact with you shortly with gratitude. Volunteers will begin circulating through the room to collect envelopes and there is a bug in the back box in the back. One more huge congratulations to our 2019 finalist and now back to the fabulous post to get on with the show. [applause] incredibly hard to make this evening a success the National Book awards are particularly exciting because until the moment that the title of the winter leaves their mouth, no one but the final panel of judges knows the positions, not the foundation board, not the staff. The judges made their final decisions on the earlier today. So, everyone. We are all hearing it at the same time for the first time. Winners in each category will be announced by the chair of the respective category and they are presented in reverse alphabetical order. We couldnt do this in hollywood. No one spells tough. The categories for young peoples literature, translated literature, poetry, nonfiction and fiction. To present the National Award for young peoples literature the book a step from having was a finalist for the National Book award for people of literature and for people that have received numerous awards and recognition including the International Reading Association Award and the Parents Choice award gives me greait gives megreat pleasure te stage the very talented, extremely lovely on anna. For the young peoples category we have the fortunate and daunting task of reading across all genres of poetry to nonfiction, picture books to novels. We had over 300 entries, and thank goodness i was part of a brilliant community when the first books turned into an avalanche on my doorstep. It was an honor and a privilege to serve with such a passionate, dedicated and empathetic group please help me to thank my fellow judges. I think we are all gathered here today because we believe in the transformative power of story and work. She so eloquently stated when our children have books that act as mirrors and windows into their own and others experiences, we see the humanity in one another. The distinguished finalists for birth and colorful books and when these kind of books are placed in the hands of young people stepping forward more and more they played more pivotal roles changing the Political Landscape the very active reading and writing becomes revolutionary. This years fabulous five are make me a world, Penguin Random house. Jason reynolds featuring scenes have nothing to. Penguin random house Harpercollins Publishers and martin w. Sandler the year that changed america. And the National Book award goes to martin w. The year that changed america. The. I have three minutes. But i would like to thank you so much. After a lifetime, this is such an incredible honor. I am particularly honored to have been in the company of my fellow nominees. I will tell you as the elder statesman of the group, i am so confident in the future of young peoples literature. [applause] and i want to tell all of them how much i admired their work. Nobody in this country or the world knows better than the people in this room that no book as a resulis a result of the al. Ive had people love blooms very who know this book is as much theirs as it is mine, particularly mary and susan. Thank you so much. [applause] ive written 60 books. I intend to write at least 60 more. I hope im back here again to celebrate with you. Thank you so very much. [applause] [cheering] cineplex give him another hand. [applause] if you just keep typing, good things happen. [laughter] to present the National Book award for translated literature is the awardwinning author of the novel those who knew and ways to disappear. The translator of the passion according to and leaning against this, ladies and gentlemen it gives me a great pleasure to bring to the stage idra novey. [applause] this is exciting. 20 years ago, the number of publishers are willing to take a risk of a writer new to the readers in english with a short enough list that every translator that i knew could recite them in under a minute. To be a judge for this award, to btobehold with a number of publishers now championing books by living authors, translated into english has been astonishing. And it has always been a welcomed review to the crimes occurring daily under this administration. [applause] its been exhilarating to read fellow writers around the world who are responding to this ever more alarming era that we are in and the number of superb Translators Network in the United States right now is breathtaking. Thank you all. [applause] and ive learned a tremendous amount from my [inaudible] [applause] translated by lori price. The next is homecoming from new directions. [applause] [cheering] [inaudible] translated by jordan stump. [applause] and the Memory Police with Pantheon Books translated by stephen snyder. [applause] and at the crossing with Pantheon Books translated by david saxton. [applause] at this years National Book k award for translated literature. [applause] [cheering] music ladies and gentlemen, it is a great honor to stand before you. Thank you. I would like to thank my translator. I would also like to thank my american readers and my publisher. [cheering] and everyone working at new directions. I would be especially grateful to my fellow finalists if they will forgive me. I implore that forgiveness and ask them not to hate me. Not today. Last but not least i would like to thank the National Book awards for opening up the category once again. Its a tremendous joy. We can be at home in the United States of america. And finally i give my thing is the leading me here among all of you. Thanks. [applause] thank you so much. The author of this book answered all of my questions with incredible grace and kindness. It brought everything. My profound thanks i give to the jury and all of you for caring so much about the translated word when it seems every day more barriers are being erected. The translated word is a sign if i seem a kind of freedom, human eccentric wayward. Thank you all. [applause] [inaudible] [laughter] [cheering] [cheering] the very wonderful. [applause] first i want to recognize the dedication and hard work done by my fellow judges on this panel. [applause] i am also very grateful to the National Book foundation to give me the opportunity to consider these books and work with my fellow panelist. Max beerbohm wrote to the most difficult thing about being a poet is deciding what to do with the other 23 and a half hours of the day. [laughter] but the greatest is to withstand the pointless public and private arguments poetry as the essential human activity like dancing or making music as long as the moon rises in the night sky poetry will matter so having a very large crosssection i can tell you that poetry is essential to the national character. And in our country and the vulgarity we are also venetian capable of refinement and generosity. And buyer poet to show that we all may be capable of feeling and knowing america is a nation of great poets and we must see them as a treasure that they are. [applause] among those are the finalist here Jericho Brown the tradition published by Copper Canyon pres press. New and selected poems published by university of pittsburgh press. Ms. Kaminsky death republic published by gray wolf press. Carmen smith. Published by gray wolf press. And arthur. Site line. Published by Copper Canyon press. The National Book award for poetry goes to arthur. [applause] wow. I am amazed and grateful for this honor and recognition of my work. I have been writing for so many years and i want to take this opportunity for my fellow finalist to write these necessary and courageous poems. We need to tree now more than ever. [applause] poetry is the essential language to help us slow down and see clearly and feel deeply to envision what truly matters. And my wife who we have written problems alongside each other for years. Thank you to my editor we joined Copper Canyon press so we been together 25 years. He is a visionary editor and his commitment and passion for poetry is amazing. John, alina, sally caldwell, and the rest of the staff from Copper Canyon press, thank you so much. Well the National Book award for nonfiction will be presented by a bestselling author and editor at large and a contributor to other periodicals including gq for which his story on the lgbtq life in russia won a National Magazine award. [applause] thank you again to lisa lucas the National Book foundation who keeps books alive in the dangerous times and thank you to publishers was 600 nonfiction titles this year. Fiction is such funny word with the negative definition. And the poetry she spent the rest of her life rewriting. Imaginary card with the arguments and then narratives held using strange and beautiful actual facts. Such gardens grow under many headings and in the essay and eric and otherwise. The National Book foundation the adventurous panel lucky to have spent many months of reading critic and it editor an independent bookseller with a National Book award finalist. I am a reporter the first all of the astonishing finalists. [applause] and then other essays what you have heard is true a memoir of women and resistance the heartbeats of wounded knee and random house. Solitary. [applause] and then to be able to say at this book award for nonfiction goes to sarah. [applause] the magnitude of feeling in this room just reminds me of being here here now allow those that are now there is that i know that cannot those of the indomitable unstoppable morgan. [applause] and the Incredible Team to shepherd me safely through. [applause] and suzanne my agent. [applause] marie brown and in this room tonight my mother. [applause] how as a child i watched her every move to see her eyes fall upon every word encountered in the Grocery Store on the bus and the package with my High School Textbooks always taking downwards insatiable thats how my learned that words were sustenance to be a beautiful relief for the greatest assault and how that words make me know that my mother was only saying in between raising 12 humans. I am in this room and so is my mother. [applause] and leaving new york city in early 19 in this room tonight my love a fellow artist the most inspired accompaniment of my life my siblings when i hear but their voices exist in my car Karen Darrell byron torre, eddie, deborah, thank you. For telling me the stories in the first place and for trusting me to make something of them allowing me to call your names because theres no way to recover the names some of them who die before the presence and my auntie my mothers only sister my uncle joe and then my older brother simon junior who died the day after this book appear to the world. Listening to his voice on the recordings that we made so i could make this book to say you grew up on wilson avenue in the east baby you can handle anything and that sometimes i talk too much what i am doing right now. [laughter] even with and through it all because the work is the work is the work in this book honors me as i make the next one. Thank you. [applause] that was worth getting out of bed for. Seriously. [applause] seventyeight envelopes. I am certain of wellheeled men and women can do better than 78. Right clicks come on dig in and dig deep for the National Book foundation for literature and for the people. Here is another envelope. God bless you. Thank you. So to present the National Book award of five critically acclaimed books fiction and nonfiction including the Award Winning novel not my life story and the most recent story, no bed he laughed when the bar said that was not his life story . I love you sir. [laughter] it one of Time Magazines best novels of the year. Welcome to the stage of the drives for literature professor from california my album matter please bring to the stage nancy said not. [applause] i am thrilled to be here tonight at the end of long and arduous journey. Was deeply rewarding. And those were probably selfish reasons and then to block out the increasingly insane chatter social media and the romantic notion to prolonged excessive reading i might return to a preelection self but what i didnt bargain for his there was only so many hours of the day of those certain elements of neglected such as my children there is always time to fix that mass. [laughter] i was in los angeles a land dominated by that other industry being a writer of fiction makes you feel like you can be a relic or an amish person but that affirmed my belief the most original stories are not from fiveminute meetings but the voluntary writer day after day and month after month through their distractions and ambivalence and uncertainty with their idiot craddick of sessions and complicated where others go simple so thank you to all of these authors for doing the fearless and often lonely one lonely work also to a superb fellow judges Dorothy Allison, allison, ramirez and jeff and are mere. [applause] we read on trains and airplanes and in kitchens sometimes of the dim lights for the written word and with civility and openmindedness. I wont say there were not moments of tension like the time i challenged jeff to a rap battle that thankfully we both back down and decided it wasnt worth the humiliation. [laughter] thank you for running the ship the year after year the quiet radical work to reinvigorate literature and with that relevance and diversity and power. Now for the finalist five distinct books each of the united as Dorothy Allison put it by a common grace of language and complexity each of these thrilled and disarmed us in the best possible way. Susan troy a trust exercise. Harry holt and company. Marlon james. [applause] lane, the other american. [applause] Julia Phillips disappearing earth. [applause] now i am honored and delighted to announce that shares National Book award for fiction to susan troy trust exercise. [applause] i was told my hair was static he. [laughter] im actually really surprised. Thank you so much to the judges and my fellow finalist. Thank you to last years award winner who said i had to write something down. I did the only because she told me to. Thank god she did. But this is a collaboration more than any other book i have written. Thank you jen for being the difference between this book existing and not i dont think it would have if you didnt tell me it should be a book. And also this book existing in being a hell of a lot better. And also everybody at halt. And every one else. And everyone else at the wiley agency for taking good care of me. The longer i do this it really is some reward for what they are facing find it an astonishing privilege that this is what i get to do for a living. Thank you. And then my very first derivative fiction and when i was 20 and working at a Cash Register and even when i was 30 and published one book i never thought one day i could have a life that was centered on books and writing and that is what i did. And im so grateful for that. Thank you. [applause] enormous congratulations to all of the finalist and the winners attendees and viewers on and facebook lies it would not be possible without the support of readers everywhere. Never forget what you do is essential to humanity. Reading and literacy are a birthright of all of us and reading is indeed a radical fact of humanity. Thank you all for coming there is an after Party Upstairs that you can get your Literary Group on. Thank you for coming to the National Book awards. [applause] a pretty powerful weapon the bullet that hit me you could take a bear down with that. Later they showed me how i am alive and does make you wonder. A lot of miracles that day that is when that a detail in the book and it helped to get me through with the prayers up to get me through it but i chronicles of very specific things even if you dont have the same kind of faith that by the time you get to the fifth through the sixth clearly there is a larger presence on the ball field. But the congressman usually did not stay till the end. He normally leaves around 8 00 oclock normally leaves around seven to shower and get ready but that morning the meeting was canceled. So he stayed for extra batting practice and was in the batting cage down the First Base Line the shooter was we had the thirdbase dugout he was out of line of fire but could see what was happening and his skills took over he knew he had to check on me to see just what had happen if he could do something to help me. Again i wouldnt be here if he was not there that day forgot most days he would not have been there because his schedule took him somewhere else. One of the major miracles. On location at freedom fest Libertarian Convention convention in las vegas now we want to introduce you to one author teethree teaching at dy you in idaho here is the cover of his book there is a god. In the last days what you referencing. Im referencing obviously there is a lot of work that to be very aggressive they usually talk about the four