I am the author of two novels, Salad Days and Pariah, both involving iconoclastic characters in modern subcultures. My novels (self-published) have collectively sold nearly 10,000 copies. Rash, the first story from my three-part serial Pariah was a Finalist for Best Horror in the 2002 Independent Publisher's Awards. Salad Days reached 151 on the Amazon.com best-selling general fiction list in 2002 and remained on the best-seller's list for four years, while Rash peaked at 51 on the Amazon.com best-selling horror list the following year. Both have been on Powell's list of national bestselling small press books. You can check out the Pics on this MySpace site to see some of the tattoos readers have gotten of the book cover.
REVIEWS:
Salad Days is, in a word, amazing. I can't describe how much of an effect this book has had on me. Nothing else I've ever read has so clearly interpreted the life of a punk, and told it so entertainingly. - Twenty Inches eZine
Pariah is an excellent underground horror story. Perfect for reading while huddled under the covers on a dark and stormy night. If you have a penchant for dark and macabre fiction, look no further. - Maximum RockNRoll
Salad Days is a solid read, and anybody with an ounce of passion for what [punk/hardcore] music is all about will have a hard time putting it down. The last few pages actually gave me goosebumps. - Askew Reviews
Salad Days is a poignant memoir for anyone who ever believed in the power of music. Romalotti has a skill for character development, dialogue, and rich detail. - Al Quint, Suburban Voice
Nothing in Pariah is what it seems to be at first. I read this novel with clenched fists, gasping and shaking my head through every twist and turn. I got so caught up in reading this I felt lost when it ended. - Fat City Magazine
Pariah kicks ass, dangerously so. It was such an intoxicating breath of air, albeit a dark and putrid air at times. Something Romalotti illustrates well with Pariah is that fiction doesn't have to be fake, overdone, or preposterous in order to be captivating and meaningful. Pariah is definitely a book worth reading. - IndustrialNation
Romalotti definitely has a real talent for writing. - Adam, H2O
Salad Days keeps your heart pumping high-octane gasoline and your emotions running high. Romalotti's debut novel is quite an accomplishment. - Maximum RockNRoll
Pariah is a very brutal portrayal of the lost and the sad and the damned. - Jarboe, The Swans
Romalotti has a gift for storytelling. - Dru, This Ascension
Pariah is unnerving, twisted, and quite sick-lock, lock this guy up! - cevin Key, Skinny Puppy
Salad Days is a beautifully told story. I don't think I can come close to doing this book justice in such a short review, but please, trust me, it's fucking fantastic and I can't recommend it highly enough. - Electrocution Distribution, Australia
If you grew up in the mid-1980s hardcore/punk scene in America, you won't be able to put this book down. Salad Days is a very inspiring read. - Bones, Lower Class Brats
I really loved Salad Days. There's nothing more compelling than a book that can make you feel as though I'm there, as this story does, by its biting usage of affluent tones and descriptions. I have enjoyed it thoroughly. - Mike Sosa, Mad Parade
Typically with Romalotti, things aren't quite as clear as they initially appear. After a series of gripping incidents and interweaving plots in Pariah, things are left perfectly balanced for an explosive climax. - Scanner Magazine, UK
I felt I had a firm grasp on exactly what was coming in Pariah. However when the expected scene arrives, the mechanics of the situation and the complex interplay of multiple plots absolutely blows you away. Simply put, this book is awesome. - Lethal Injection eZine
After the first chapter of Pariah, you think you have an idea of what is going to happen, but then at the end it takes a total turn. This book has a great ending! - Through These Eyes.net
Combining elements of thriller, suspense, and horror, Romalotti weaves a tale in Pariah that reads like punk rock nightmares. The complex interplays will have you suspecting what may come next, but never truly knowing. - The House of Pain
Salad Days is amazing…a must-read for any fan of the punk/hardcore genre. - Through These Eyes eZine
Salad Days thrusts the reader into an emotionally charged reading experience. It is a book I now consider one of the finest I've ever read. - punkrockreviews.com
Pariah is a horror story for the Industrial generation. A totally convincing and compelling read. - Martin Bowes, Attrition
Pariah has such well-written characters, you just gasp as you follow them through every suspenseful and sickening turn in the story. I loved it. - Morbid Outlook Magazine
Pariah is a wild horror-show of a ride. Romalotti's pointed social satire never overshadows his sympathy for the main players in this nightmare tale. An excellent read.
- Don DeGrazia, author of American Skin
Salad Days is a kick-ass novel about discovering punk rock. This well-written book is instantly recognizable to any punker. - Alternative Tentacles Records
Romalotti's writing style can be summed up in one word, "Amazing". This book will change your perspective on life. - Music Revue
Plain and simple, Pariah is a must, and you are a fool to ignore it, no matter who you are. - B-Independent
Salad Days is a classic punk coming of age novel. A fast-paced, engrossing, and thoroughly enjoyable read. - AK Press
Striking characters and memorable plots mean we're not going to give too much away about Pariah. Suffice to say, it's a gripping ride of horror, humor, and humanity. - Alternative Tentacles Records
Salad Days is the touching story of your life, through the eyes of one Frank Smith. Everything you've experienced is here between the covers. Honest, sincere, forthright. - Gadjet
