A couple years ago, the novelist Russell Banks told me he was reading the ancient Greek historian Herodotus. I asked why. He said, 'Because I've always wanted to and am tired of having my reading assigned.' I thought it was a marvelous declaration of independence.

Early life and education
Russo was born in Johnstown New York and raised in nearby Gloversville. Russo wrote the teleplay for the HBO adaptation of Empire Falls the screenplay for the 2005 film Ice Harvest and the screenplay for the 2005 Niall Johnson film Keeping Mum which starred Rowan Atkinson. The couple have two daughters Kate and Emily.