ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — Andy Andrews’ story is amazing. His tale of overcoming the worst in life to get to the best is one that should spread inspiration.

At 19, after losing both his parents within the year, Andrews moved to the Gulf Coast penniless, homeless and hopeless.

Spending his nights under the Gulf State Park pier and his days catching fish to feed himself — which, for only a dollar a local restaurant would cook for him — Andrews was lost in life and hanging on by a thread.

Through the Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Foley libraries Andrews began reading biographies and educating himself on what it took to be successful in life.

“I was trying to find out what it was about them,” Andrews said. “Were they born this way? Was it something they did? If it was something they did, what did they do?”

He read 200 books, heroic stories of figures like Winston Churchill and Joan of Arc, and amidst the literature pin-pointed seven principles that all the figures used for success.

Andrews felt that it was his destiny to help people succeed in their life.

“I felt like I had something that needed to be put out there,” Andrews said. “When God was passing out talent I was given the talent to notice things a little bit differently and be able to communicate them.”

He started writing and began producing books with life’s lessons of success.

“I wondered what would happen to the life of someone who knew all seven decisions,” he said.

His book, “The Traveler’s Gift”, wraps those decision’s into the story of a destitute man who travels in time to see how the decisions in his life can result in success. The “Traveler’s Gift” was turned down by 51 publishers before someone gave it a shot. It became a Good Morning America Book of the Month and has sold more than a million copies domestically.

In his book, “Mastering the Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success”, Andrews translated those principles into decisions to live by.

Those decisions include taking responsibility for yourself, choosing to be happy and to persist without exception.

Andrews’ favorite book he’s written, “Island of Saints”, is set on the Gulf coast during World War II. The story is based on a box of artifacts Andrews found in his own backyard and tells the story of a woman who has lost her husband to the war and finds a betrayed German soldier washed ashore. She is determined to kill him, but finds compassion and hides him.

Andrews refers to himself as a noticer and his perspective on life and his way of sharing it has lead him to touch the lives of an uncountable amount of people. Even during this interview Andrews can’t help put drift into relaying his message.

“Even in the toughest of times, there is great hope,” he said. “Everybody goes through the toughest time in their life. But remember that you are still breathing. And if you are still breathing that means you are still here. If you are still here that means you haven’t finished what you are put here to do. And if you haven’t finished what you are here to do then your very purpose has not been fulfilled.”

Andrews spreads his inspiration throughout the world, traveling internationally to teach people how to make good decisions.

He speaks to major corporations, professional sports teams and has spoken at presidential events.

But Andrews said that it is the people in his community that he strives to help the most. He said that during his toughest time the people of this Island were there for him and he works to the favor.

“The people around this area are such a huge part of my history,” Andrews said. “It’s an awesome area with awesome people.”

Andrews lives in Orange Beach with his wife Polly and two sons Adam, 6, and Austin, 9.