“The digital revolution, Amazon, electronic books, the disappearance of so many indie bookstores, has been a disruption,” said Novelist Richard Russo, who won the Pulitzer Prize for “Empire Falls,” a story set in a fictional Maine mill town. “It’s especially difficult for younger writers to break in.”

On March 20th Russo launched a new concept in Maine — a literary introduction series — to promote newly-published authors across the country. It’s was held at the Think Tank in Portland, co-sponsored by The Authors Guild, a New York City-based organization of which Russo is a vice president. The series, which will be filmed and archived, has Russo introduce readers to first-time novelists.