One of the pillars upon which we’ve built our business at Capital Investment Advisors is being passionate, deeply enthusiastic, and committed to helping our clients achieve financial freedom, so that they can find happiness in retirement. We hope to channel this fervor to help others, but every once in a while, a client demonstrates so much of their own passion that we find ourselves inspired. Such is the case with Gerald, and today we shine a spotlight on his journey.
A native Georgian who grew up in the Atlanta suburb of Decatur, Gerald received a BBA from the University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!) and then signed up for three years of service as an artillery officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. Along the way, he achieved his MBA from the University of Tampa and went to work for companies such as Coca-Cola Enterprises and Genuine Parts Company. He spent the majority of his business career in the medical devices industry with Datex-Ohmeda and GE, and was involved in several mergers and acquisitions, gaining significant international experience.
Gerald speaking to a Kiwanis Club in Macon, Georgia
The Seed of a Story: Early Influences and a Love of Writing
Gerald always enjoyed writing and was especially encouraged by an English teacher at Atlanta’s Druid Hills High School. “The incomparable Margaret Davis,” as he refers to her, may not have convinced him to become a writer, but she seems to have planted the seed. It wasn’t until he’d completed his service in the Marines and worked for several years that he began to toy with the idea of writing a book. At night and on weekends, he’d pound the keys of an electric typewriter. It was a far cry from ChatGPT, but anyone of a certain age will remember that it seemed cutting-edge at the time.
After releasing his first novel, Bent, But Not Broken, in 1986, Gerald had a choice to make: Should he roll the dice as a fledgling novelist or stick with a business career that was already gaining traction? He decided to embrace the democratic process, calling for a vote at the dinner table. His wife and three children unanimously cast their ballots for the choice that was steadily providing shelter, food, braces, college, etc. As Gerald puts it, his author proposal was “Met with an equivalent level of enthusiasm as if I had suggested a winter vacation in Siberia.”
The Creative Flame Rekindled in Retirement
So, like many future happy retirees, he temporarily put his dreams on the back burner, but never let the fire die. Nearly twenty-five years later, he rekindled the flame, publishing his second novel, titled Shall Never See So Much. After retiring from the corporate world in 2007, he was able to devote more time to writing and speaking. In 2012, he released a business novel, Dare Not Blink. In 2017, he published a historical fiction about the Civil War, titled That Deadly Space. Most recently, he released another historical novel, this one about World War II in the Pacific: Finding His Own Way, A Marine Novel.
Gerald with his second novel, Shall Never See So Much, with Hall of Fame
UGA coach and former Marine Vince Dooley
The front cover of Gerald’s most recent historical novel, Finding His Own Way
Why the recent trend toward historical fiction? Gerald has found that he very much enjoys the delicate balance required to write it. The challenge is to anchor the narrative around specific historical events yet take enough creative liberties to build a compelling story.
Apart from bringing joy to his readers, Gerald takes the most satisfaction from the writing’s inherent process of discovery. Putting the puzzle together requires stirring interest at the beginning, developing characters, creating sufficient tension to keep the pages turning, and finally, finding an ending that the reader didn’t see coming. Few of life’s payoffs taste as sweet as figuring out a great story.
Advice to Aspiring Writers: Just Begin
For anyone in or near retirement with a desire to write, Gerald’s advice would be to decide on a project and then write the first page. The moment it’s completed, you have become a writer. All that is required to remain one is to keep writing. Whether it’s advice to grandchildren, reminiscences about days gone by, or a full-length novel, it doesn’t matter. As long as you aren’t afraid to express yourself with written words, you’re doing it “right.” Becoming published is an altogether different proposition, but you can’t publish what you haven’t yet created. So just keep writing!
Life doesn’t always go as planned. Despite his nagging desire to write, Gerald spent the majority of his career in business. However, not only did this allow him to provide for his family, but it also provided him with countless adventures and experiences that he could later draw upon to build his stories. Having a productive and positive outlook can make almost any situation fertile ground for your retirement passions and core pursuits. Furthermore, all that business travel to both domestic and international locations has accumulated more than just narrative material. The frequent-flier miles have enabled him and his wife, Debby, to enjoy some unforgettable trips together without breaking the bank. On a fixed income, it’s tough to beat that.
Gerald and his wife, Debby, on a trip to Israel
More about Gerald’s books and background is available at www.geraldgillis.com. Anyone interested in becoming a writer can contact him through the website, and he’ll be happy to answer any questions.
