It all started with the idea that women over 40 needed an online destination with compelling and intelligent content. So in March 2008, Joni Evans and a circle of her friends including gossip columnist Liz Smith, advertising executive Mary Wells Lawrence and journalists Lesley Stahl and Peggy Noonan, launched wowOwow.com. It has been a hectic two years.

Joni Evans' 35-year career in the publishing industry includes heading both Simon & Schuster and Random House and representing numerous best-selling authors at the William Morris Agency. Evans recently talked to Patch about the future of books as well as the love she has for her hometown of Pound Ridge.

How long have you been living here in Pound Ridge?

I have been here since 1991, almost 20 years. It is calm, leafy, dignified and sweet. The best part is that Pound Ridge is such a dependable place - no McMansions, no train station, no developments. It has really remained a small and gentle town that I cherish.

It must be relaxing to return home after your busy workdays in the city.

It is incredible. We are 52 miles from the Chrysler Building. We can leave at 5pm on a Friday and in an hour and a half, be on a canoe in the Mill River looking at blue herons in the trees and monster snapping turtles beneath us.  It is all that New York City is not.

Tell us about wowOwow.com.

Women over 40, empty-nesters for example, have a certain sensibility. We believe they are looking for an exciting place to go online for dynamic content that is not necessarily centered around just children, news-only or dating.

The heart of the site is the conversations among celebrities, authors and all kinds of smart women. My personal favorite section is something called "The wOw Effect," which is an online radio show where we talk to invited guests about a whole host of things, maybe their favorite way to relax, or a great piece of music. It is about sharing our experiences.

What about the future of bookstores and even books in general?

Well, the interesting thing is that reading is up overall. People are buying more books in every format. Although electronic books are still in their infancy, the accessibility they provide is a boon to readership in general. I read on my iPad - up to eight books a week! And what continues to be valued in the industry is the talent of editors and publishers.

I think the bookstore is an endangered species, as is the paper, print and binding industries. Although I do believe there will be a place left for excellent shops. Like Elm Street Books in New Canaan for example.

Are you happy running a website?

It is busy, busy, busy and very exciting. It is a great medium where we can all meet up and don't have to arrive in make-up and high-heeled shoes.