Milwaukee's readers are woefully underserved on the Internet. Other than book coverage in online media, a couple blogs and Web sites for the few local indie shops, there's not much out there.

But Lisa Roe, a Milwaukee native and veteran book publicist, has changed that with the recent launch of her Milwaukee Reads! Web site.

"After my stint as a book publicist in NYC, I made my way back to Milwaukee to strike out on my own," Roe said last week. "The focus of my business is online book publicity. Through this, I have met a number of wonderful online contributors who enjoy reading and spreading the word on great books."

So, Roe has assembled these talents around their common passion and the site has information on local bookshops, author events, new books, local authors and more.

While she's only started loading it with information, she expects the site to blossom into a literary resource for the Milwaukee area.

"Through the work of these passionate readers, the framework for a close knit vibrant, literary community is born," Roe said. "I have personally seen how beneficial these online outlets are for readers, booksellers, and the publishing industry."