Author Andre Simmons talks about homelessness, mental illness, being a fatherless child, and his book The Salt from Their Tears

Written by Gloria Peebles

Andre Simmons a native of Chicago who resides in Georgia has had his share of life’s most difficult experiences. He himself grew up without knowing his father, found himself homeless at one point in his life, and just when you think things couldn’t get any worse his 19-year-old daughter Dominique dies in his arms. “I could see her eyes looking at me and I felt so helpless as a father. She had tears coming down her face and she was trying to communicate with me; it still haunts me today and that’s how I got the title of my book,” said Andre.

In Andre’s book The Salt from Their Tears, he takes on a journey with three of his daughters, Khloe, April, and Kiera but he is the father of eight children: four biological daughters, two adopted daughters, and two adopted sons. Andre began his writing career with his first film titled “Rainbow” based on his daughter Dominique who was a part of the LGBTQ community. His youngest daughter comes home and finds her mother dead after she commits suicide. Another one of his daughters also committed suicide. His oldest daughter had been molested by her stepfather from the age of seven to sixteen. “I’m such an advocate for women, especially when it comes to my daughters,” said Andre.

This all sounds like something you see in the movies. Many people have experienced horrific things in life that some of us cannot even imagine, but this is all real for Andre and his daughters. When I asked Andre how he kept from losing his mind, he said, “I tried to stay grounded by the ones who love and support me as well as the bible.” Andre is consistently focusing on his daughters making sure they get the love and support they need from him. Andre realizes how important it is for fathers to be in their children’s lives because he did not know his biological father.

Andre was put in foster care due to something that was happening in his home. He ran away from foster care and even his friends would not help him. He ended up homeless on the streets for two years. On the streets, Andre learned how cruel this world can be. He became ill with pneumonia, eating out of trash cans and sleeping in a cardboard box at night was not away anyone should live “but, I got through it by the grace of God,” said Andre. “I would never mistreat anyone, I’m a firm believer you have to be careful which way you spit in the wind because it may come back in your own face; you never know who your angel will be in this world.”

Andre is giving back to the community by telling his story of how he has coped with dealing with homelessness, the loss of two loving daughters, and dealing with mental illness. In his book, he tells the story of a father and his daughters who go through counseling sessions to heal their relationship. The session starts off with heartbreaking confessions of betrayal, pain and ends with an explosive matter that shakes everyone. If you want to know how the story ends you can purchase the book on Amazon.com.