The Lonesome Boy and The Blonde Haired Angel is a book that was written and published by one man who wanted to say thank you to a woman who responded kindly to a stranger saying hello to her. The boy in the title is author Alex Fischetti, and the blonde haired angel is his dear friend Reeny Althafer Sempsrott.

The full title of the book continues: The True Story of How One Person’s Love and Encouragement Helped A Young Man Overcome The Social Isolation of Asperger’s Syndrome, A Form of Autism.

Mr Fischetti will be in Newtown this weekend, continuing to share the story of the book published last summer. An author program is scheduled for Saturday, August 18, at C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street.

The book shares a story that is unfortunately familiar to many.

Its main character, Ernie, is teased at school and all but ostracized due to having Asperger’s.

“Anyone he would meet someone close to his age, there was always something about him that made the person think he was weird,” Mr Fischetti writes in the opening pages of the story. “Because of that, hardly anyone wanted to be around him.”

Readers soon learn that Ernie’s father has a job that keeps the family moving rather frequently. Early in the book, one of those moves takes the family from Connecticut to Florida.

That’s where Ernie meets Madeline. A pastor’s wife, the mother of four grown children, and a preschool teacher, Madeline said hello to Ernie when he visited the library one afternoon, and a friendship blossomed from there.

In real life, it was a move from Connecticut to Florida in 2009 that led to the introduction and now longstanding friendship between Mr Fischetti and Ms Sempsrott.

“I met this amazing person at the food court of Indian River Mall, after just getting off work at AMC Theatre, where I worked as an usher,” Mr Fischetti said August 14. “I saw this lady having dinner by herself, and I was drawn toward her, to say hello.

“She invited me to sit with her, and it was the first time anyone opened themselves up to me in a way that was so positive,” he said.

The friendship between the two continued in person for three years, while the author lived in Florida.

“She really opened my eyes and my heart to what is good,” Mr Fischetti said, echoing many of the words of wisdom his friend imparted upon him: “Try to look past people’s flaws, and look at the good in people. Try not to overthink or overanalyze situations.

“It happens,” he said. “You get into a hard situation, and you tend to overanalyze things. Just continue to be the best you that you can be. And don’t be afraid to open yourself up to others and let them see what you truly are. It’s just one amazing piece of advice after another, she’d give me.”

It was after Mr Fischetti’s return to Connecticut in 2012, he said this week, that he decided to write his book.

“I’m paying tribute to her in the best way I know how,” he said.

Throughout the book, passages from the Bible are shared. Appearing in the lower section of each page, the passage directly tie in to the subject matter above them.

The book is also filled with watercolors by Cleveland Miller.

“She’s taken my book and created the most beautiful pictures,” Mr Fischetti said of Ms Miller, who joined the project in 2016. “She’s taken my book and made it even more beautiful. It’s really helped bring my book to life in the most beautiful ways. I can’t praise her contributions enough.”

The closing pages of The Lonesome Boy offers readers a look at the real Ernie — Mr Fischetti — surrounded by many of his friends. Mr Fischetti is shown in a pair of photos taken at The Ridgefield Playhouse, where he serves as an usher. There is also a photo of Mr Fischetti and Ms Sempsrott, “taken during the final church service before moving back to Connecticut in 2012,” he shared Tuesday morning.

The closing pages of The Lonesome Boy also includes “Top Ten Ways that you can be a great friend to a person with Autism or Aspergers.” Among the suggestions are “Be as positive as you can,” “Be a patient as possible,” and “Lend a hand when you can see they are struggling.”

The suggestions are good for anyone, honestly. Mr Fischetti cannot name a favorite, he said. “It’s hard to pick. They’re all important,” he said. “I just pray that all those who read that part of the book realize that these are all important elements to help someone with autism.”

The Lonesome Boy and The Blonde Haired Angel was released in July 2017 through Amazon Digital Services LLC. It is categorized as religious fiction and is 42 pages long. It wasn’t until January of this year, however, that Mr Fischetti was able to present a copy of it to his friend and muse.

“It was the most amazing thing,” Mr Fischetti said. “For a Christmas present, my friends at the Ridgefield playhouse paid my airfare so that I could go see her and share this book with her.”

The two remain in regular contact, according to Mr Fischetti, thanks to Facetime and texts.

Once he personally presented a copy of The Lonesome Boy and The Blonde Haired Angel, Mr Fischetti also began talking about it on his Facebook page and doing public events.

The Ridgefield resident has had book signing events at Ridgefield SummerFest, Bernard’s of Ridgefield, and Faith Church in New Milford. Later this month, he will also have an author event at Ridgefield Library. Mr Fischetti is scheduled to be at his hometown library on Tuesday, August 28.

The program at C.H. Booth Library this weekend will run from 2 to 3 pm. Mr Fischetti said he would be happy to answer questions about his book and sign copies for anyone who visits him.

“I’m just hoping anybody who is inspired by my story and my relationship with Reeny and how it has influenced me, or anyone who has had an angel in their life, or who has influenced others, will come say hi,” he said.

Copies of The Lonesome Boy and The Blonde Haired Angel are available through amazon.com. Paperback versions are $12.99 and Kindle editions are $3.99. Mr Fischetti will have copies available for purchase on Saturday.