Question: Why do you self-publish your books? Why not go through a “reputable” publisher?
Romalotti: At the time, I wasn’t at all against my books being put out by a major publisher. In fact, I’m still not against the idea, but at the same time, I don’t pursue the idea, either. I felt that a publisher probably wouldn’t effectively reach the right people in promoting Salad Days. I honestly felt that I would be able to promote the book without a lot of overhead cost, so I decided to do it myself. Took some time raising the money to afford the printing (which costs into the thousands), but it was all worth it. Plus, I knew that with a publisher, you really need to prove yourself fairly quickly, and I figured that if they couldn’t find the audience within so many months, they would probably give up on it and my book would be out of print by now. So I feel I did the right thing. I have continued to put out my own books (Rash and Talon, as well as Salad Days reprints) because the system I’ve devised for myself works. There is no compromise with self-publishing, and I like that. The only time I actually listen to others is when I am getting the books edited. At that point, I really listen to the advice!
Question: How did you fund Layman Books?
Romalotti: The money to start Layman Books came from me working two jobs for nearly a year, funding this endeavor with an hourly wage bussing tables, delivering pizzas, and washing dishes. No family inheritance from my middle-class family! Thanks to the success of Salad Days, Layman Books was able to keep printing and reprinting new works by me, but by no means is a living. I still have my job, working full-time in marketing research. Layman Books is not a career, it’s a labor of love, and that it very truly and fully is. The perks of doing this is simply knowing that my words are being read, as they are right now by you. So thank you!
Question: Any tours planned in the near future?
Romalotti: Probably not. I did go on a four-week tour of bookstores and record stores in the summer of 2000 for Salad Days, but I learned while doing that that I really don’t like the idea of standing in front of strangers talking about myself. I felt like a used car salesman, and that if someone wanted to buy the book, I would likely have no bearing one way or another by yapping about it! But that was a while ago, and things have definitely changed since then, as interest in the books has dramatically increased. So I could see doing an in-store somewhere. If someone sends me an invitation, or a suggestion, I would definitely consider going, if I felt there was enough interest.
Question: Whatever happened to the film version of Rash?
Romalotti: At this time, I know very little because very little is happening with it. There’s a script and a strong desire on the part of the project’s future developer and director, but not much more. I think it would be cool if it happened, but I do know how fickle the film industry can be, so I’m not holding my breath. Personally, I’d be far more excited to see a graphic novel of this series (Rash, Talon, The Stickler) than a film, but I wouldn’t be disappointed with a film, either! The script that I read was a little soft on the gruesomeness of the story, which I was kind of hoping they’d accentuate into a real disturbing mindfuck, but to my dismay, it was a little more pleasant and a little less repulsive than I would have personally taken it.
