We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gale Fitzgerald a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Gale, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.

While searching for my passion, my mission in life I realized I’ve always loved to create and write stories. I launched a movie production company 20 years ago and was on my way to securing options on films when my business partner closed the company. From that day on I realized I had to create and own intellectual projects of my own in order to be successful in the industry. So I wrote a book, did the Mixed Media Illustrations and self-published WINTER IN THE DESERT through my company DESERT HILLS STUDIOS, LLC as a marketing tool for the film I intend to produce for the big screen.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Gale Fitzgerald is a Two-time Olympian, author-filmmaker and SGI Buddhist. A native of East Orange, New Jersey, Gale has lived in California for the last 45 years and currently resides in Palm Springs, California. She earned her B.A. and M.A. from Montclair State University in Health and Physical Education. In 1975 Gale won a silver medal in the pentathlon at the Pan American Games in Mexico City, Mexico and participated as member of the 1972 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Team, Munich, Germany and the 1976 Olympic Team in Montreal, Canada. After retiring from athletics, Gale became a highly experienced Educator and Investment Broker with 20 years experience in the movie production and entertainment industry. Ms. Fitzgerald created Desert Hills Studios, LLC in 2018, a film production company and founded HIGHER POWER YOUTH FOUNDATION, an organization dedicated to empowering youth through sports, education and culture. As a published author of the inspirational children’s book “WINTER IN THE DESERT” I am particularly focused on and interested in inspiring youth, helping them see their unlimited potential and the natural ability they have to be brave and courageous and win despite whatever circumstances they were born with or face. Desert Hills Studios is slated to produce 10 high-quality, low-risk Hollywood studio feature films, TV series and Reality Series Talk Shows producing and distributing raw original content for domestic and international audiences. Sharing real life stories on screen that touch our heart, make us cry and laugh for more and inspire us all to dream again. PASSION..VISION.. THIS IS DESERT HILLS STUDIOS.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Yes indeed I have stories to tell!!! When I retired from athletics there were no professional Women’s Track or Basketball Leagues to join so I went into teaching, coaching women’s sports, life insurance sales and then Investment Sales, It wasn’t until I went to sell investments in a Movie Distribution company did I realize that this is want I want to do in life…write, direct and produce movies! There was a whole lot of “pivoting”in my career during my lifetime and I can tell you that the struggles and obstacles were the key to me deepening my faith and winning in every aspect of my professional life.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

A year ago I decided to polish a script I had written 10 years ago to make it current. I realized that I should write a book and use that book as a marketing tool for the script. It was such a painstaking journey but it was the most rewarding task I had every accomplished.. The most important factor was the words just keep pouring out of my life so I couldn’t help but give my entire being to writing this story. I took a risk and quit my job as an Investment Broker and lived off of my savings because I couldn’t stop writing. It took me seven months to write and self-publish WINTER IN THE DESERT, an inspirational children’s book about a small fluffy-white puppy named Winter who was abandoned in the desert and must find her way back home. Because of my limited budget I had to learn how to draw the illustrations, write the story and self publish the book myself. Now I am in the process of writing the new script to produce and direct WINTER IN THE DESERT, the Movie. Never Give Up is the theme that runs through the book and is the story of my journey that best illustrates my resilience.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Website: Deserthillsbooks.com
• Instagram: @Galelfitzgerald.author
• Linkedin: Gale Fitzgerald