A little nostalgia. A lot of heart.

Sixteen-year-old Cole Callander finally has everything he's been waiting for: a driver's license, a beat-up Ford pickup, and a summer job delivering pizzas.

Paulie's seems like the perfect place to spend the summer. The pay is cash, owner T keeps hiring Cole's friends, and most nights are spent cruising around town, arguing about movies and sports, and pretending they have life figured out.

Cole falls for Bailey, a fearless cheerleader with strawberry-blonde hair. But beneath the laughter and late-night pizza runs, something isn't right. Rumors about T's past and mysterious visitors hint at something far more dangerous.

A coming-of-age story about friendship, first love, and the unforgettable summers that shape us—with 1980s nostalgia and a dash of mob intrigue.

Chris Kamler is a Kansas City–based broadcaster, columnist, and storyteller. His writing blends humor, nostalgia, and a deep appreciation for Midwest culture.

A longtime newspaper humor columnist, Chris draws inspiration from the people, places, and memories that shaped his generation. Paulie's Pizza is his debut novel.