for example, after i introduce carmen after i introduce carmen farina, it says and i quote, he takes a seat just offstage, water available. so i guess after five minutes of speaking will be so parched i will need to rehydrate. well, it has been done. i can carry on now. they also provided me with a protein biscuit. i am good to go. how are the national book awards working out for you so far? are you enjoying the evening? okay. the best is yet to come. the best is yet to come. now, to present the medal for distinguished contribution to american letters, she letters, she is the author of the invisible circus, emerald city and other stories, look at me, which was nominated for the national book award in 2001, and the bestseller the key. her most recent novel is also a national bestseller and won the 2011 pulitzer prize, the national foot critics circle award for fiction, and the los angeles times book price, ladies and gentlemen, price, ladies and gentlemen, i love her, jennifer egan. [applause]. in 100 years, assuming there are still people on earth and they still read books it is hard

. >> vicki: w-p-i-x t-v reports the school's chancellor carmen farina expressed her condolences to the family on saturday in the following statement saying, quote: "i'm heartbroken that we've lost such a promising young life. my prayers are with noelia's family, whose pain i can only imagine. her school and her community will always remember her." >> vicki: republican candidates frustrated by their presidential debates are contemplating changes to the remaining debates. the changes may go beyond the g- o-p chairman's decision to suspend a partnership with n-b-c news and its properties on a february debate. the complaints have prompted a private meeting tonight in washington.organized by ben carson's campaign. representatives from more than a dozen campaigns are expected to attend. however it seems unlikely that the campaigns will reach a consensus.given their competing needs. >> vicki: house speaker paul ryan is ruling out comprehensive immigration reform while president barack obama is in office. the new leader of the republican-controlled house says in several interviews today that h