Robert Fromberg grew up in Peoria, Illinois, with his artist parents and two siblings, one autistic. At age 16, he left for New York City, where he worked in warehouses and spent his nights at CBGB. At age 19, after the death of his parents, he returned to Peoria and became guardian of his autistic brother.
In his 20s and 30s, Fromberg published fiction in Indiana Review, Colorado Review, and many other journals; graduated from the Warren Wilson College MFA Program for Writers; and taught writing at Northwestern University.
After a 20-year break, he returned to writing. His memoir How to Walk with Steve was published by Latah Books in 2021, and his collection of essays Friends and Fiends, Pulp Stars and Pop Stars was published by Alien Buddha Press in 2022. His absurdist historical novel Gee, That Was Fun: 7 Days of Mayhem, 1983 was released by the Trunk of My Car Cooperative in 2024.