Charleston, SC, Sept. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Palmetto Publishing has released The Boy with The Love Kiss, a debut coming-of-age novel by James H. Whittaker. Set against the backdrop of a 1950s Italian-American neighborhood, the book follows a shy, imaginative boy through decades of life as he pursues dreams far bigger than the city block where he was raised.
The story opens in 1959 on a row home street alive with the rituals of a tight-knit community: half ball tournaments, bocce games, gravy sandwiches after Sunday church, and the rattle of a huckster's truck. At the center is a bashful young dreamer who spends his days playing stickball, racing muscle cars at the local dragway, and nursing one extraordinary fantasy. While his friends brag about schoolyard conquests, he retreats into a vivid inner world, captivated by the notion that every girl he kisses might fall hopelessly in love with him.
But his shyness is a wall he cannot scale. Raised to respect women yet barely able to speak to them, the protagonist wrestles with the distance between his rich imagination and his real life. As the decades unfold, he chases speed in a Hugger Orange 1969 Camaro, rides a Honda 360 along the Jersey Shore, and builds a career fueled by ambition and restless longing. The central question persists: is his lifelong dream merely a fantasy, or does the quietest heart carry a gift no one expected?
James H. Whittaker stated, "This story came from the imagination of a shy boy growing up in the inner city with dreams of life as he knew it could be. I wanted to write something for anyone who has ever felt too reserved to reach for what they truly wanted, and to show that the dreamers among us sometimes find something extraordinary waiting on the other side."
The novel speaks to a generation of readers who grew up in or feel drawn to mid-century urban neighborhoods and the bittersweet charm of a simpler era. It sits comfortably alongside the heartfelt, emotionally driven narratives of authors like Mitch Albom and Nicholas Sparks, blending nostalgia with a touch of magical thinking. With themes of identity, belonging, and the tension between innocence and reality, The Boy with The Love Kiss appeals to adult readers ages 35 and older as well as younger audiences searching for connection and purpose.
The Boy with The Love Kiss is available for purchase online at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com. For more information about the author, please visit any of their social media platforms.
About the Author: James H. Whittaker is a commercial fiction author whose vivid imagination and deep faith fuel stories that inspire readers across generations. A lifelong professional in the construction industry, he built a successful career before retiring and turning his creative energy toward writing. His debut novel, The Boy with The Love Kiss, reflects a storytelling voice shaped by decades of quiet observation and a spirit eager to connect with others.
Whittaker's path to writing began with a lifetime of dreaming. Growing up as a shy, reserved boy in the inner city, he cultivated a rich inner world filled with adventure, romance, and possibility. That imaginative spark never dimmed. In retirement, with time to let his creativity flourish, he channeled those dreams into fiction designed to reach young readers, teens, and adults alike, especially those who, like him, have ever felt reserved or longed for meaningful connection. A health scare, including a heart attack and recovery, only deepened his conviction that he has more stories to share and a purpose yet to fulfill.
Whittaker is a man of faith who credits his relationship with God as a guiding force in both his life and his writing. He lives in Wirtz, Virginia, on Smith Mountain Lake, and considers The Boy with The Love Kiss the first of many adventurous books to come. When he is not writing, he enjoys Fishing, Cooking, Writing & Reading, Competitive Shooting, and many more hobbies to keep an active body and mind going. Follow James H. Whittaker for updates on new releases.
Media Contact: publicity@palmettopublishing.com
Available for interviews: Author, James H. Whittaker
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Leah Joseph Palmetto Publishing katarina@palmettopublishing.com
