In his book, Joe Dupuis taps into the some of the emotional moments in his life, including being in the Navy during Vietnam.

Joe Dupuis visited Roanoke with his wife in 1973. From that moment on he just knew he wanted to live here someday. Sure enough, in 1988, Dupuis and his wife moved to Roanoke.

Dupuis grew up in a small town, with little money, and a big family. He was one of eight children and hit one of the lowest points of his life when he dropped out of high school in 10th-grade.

"It was always challenging -- that's what drove me to succeed in my life," Dupuis said.

Dupuis has now written a memoir, "The Other Side of the Clouds," which reveals his trials and his triumphs throughout his life that began with a boyhood dream to soar above the clouds and work in a military aircraft while making films of other warplanes. It's about failure not being the end and self-discipline.

"I didn't know how low low could be until I failed high school. I had a disappointed father and a hurt mother. Army Basic training scooped me up and didn't allow me to fail, and ever since then, everything became a challenge, and I wanted that sweet taste of success," Dupuis said.

After joining the National Guard, he discovered the military had a motion picture school, which he immediately became involved in. He received his high school diploma and earned a college degree while on active duty. He also became a noted Navy aerial cameraman and selected as "Top Cinematographer" in the U.S. Armed Forces in 1978. When he retired from the military, he began doing film for the city in Virginia Beach and freelance grip on movie sets. Eventually then took a job with Appalachian Power and moved to Roanoke.

Joe Dupuis

"Videography gave me the tools to write this book, he said. "Every cloud became that connection."

Dupuis began writing this book at least five times in 2004 after his daughter overheard him telling her children stories of his life. She told him that he should write it all down and write a book.

"It wasn't going anywhere. One day I was lying on the couch looking up at the sky and watching these huge clouds, and it reminded me of how I loved to lie on my back and watch the clouds when I was young and I realized that was my connection for the book. Clouds helped me stay on track."

Tapping into the some of the emotional moments in his life, including being in the Navy during Vietnam was just about the toughest part of writing his memoir, he said.

"It was an emotional storm -- a perfect storm. There was a tremendous amount of emotional feeling I had to deal with and have to continue to deal with."

Dupuis now dreams that he can influence the young people of today in believing in themselves and never giving up.

Dupuis is also working on another book, this time a cookbook called, "Real Cajuns Don't Burn Their Food," which will include Cajun recipes and the history of the Cajun people.

To purchase Dupuis' book, published by Author House, visit Ramshead at Towers Mall or order from Barnes & Noble or Amazon.com.