HALLOWELL — A book launch celebration for “The Amethyst Stone” will take place between 2 and 4 p.m., Sunday, March 1,  at the Harlow Gallery at 160 Water St. in Hallowell. Author Lloyd Ferriss, a writer of fiction and nonfiction works, will read from his novel, answer questions and sign books. Light refreshments will be provided.  The event is free and open to the public.

“The Amethyst Stone” is a bittersweet love story set on the north shore of Long Island, N.Y. in the 1950s. Paul Howland, the novel’s young protagonist, is 11 in the opening chapter. In trouble at home and in school, he considers suicide his best escape. But two people intervene: classmate Jenny Moran, and an adult mentor who discovers in Paul a latent artistic talent.

 There’s been good early response to the novel, including the following:

 “Beautifully written and richly rendered, Lloyd Ferriss’ entertaining and at times heartbreaking coming-of-age novel explores who we are, how we find our place, and illuminates essential truths about life, love, family, and most of all, hope.” —Melissa Senate, author of “The Secret of Joy,” “The Love Goddess’ Cooking School” and seven more novels.

 “In The Amethyst Stone, Lloyd Ferriss tells the story of a community on Long Island at the moment of awakening to the modern world. And he brings us to the moment of artistic awakening in his young protagonist, Paul. With convincing detail and rhythm of his poignant tale the author truly evokes another era.” —Phoebe Stone, author of “Romeo Blue,” “The Boy on Cinnamon Street” and” The Romeo and Juliet Code,” among other novels.

Ferriss is a long-time resident of Richmond who lives with his wife, the artist Jane Frost. Jane created the pastel painting that is the cover of “The Amethyst Stone,” and contributed a line drawing for the book’s title page. Both Ferriss and Frost are active participants in Harlow Gallery shows. Frost submits primarily pastel works. Ferriss’ interest is traditional film photography.

 Before writing “The Amethyst Stone,” Ferriss wrote two nonfiction books. The most recent, “Harry Stump, Maine’s Psychic Sculptor,” received honorable mention at the 2013 New England Book Festival in Boston. Prior to 2001, Ferriss wrote features and a garden column for the Maine Sunday Telegram.