Name: David Sherwood Cuellar
Pen name: D. S. Cuellar
Age: 55
What’s your star sign? Capricorn.
Where are you from?
Born and raised in Napa, California. Lived in Lake Tahoe for a while and a little time in L.A. but I now live in Portland, Oregon.
A little about yourself `ie your education Family life etc.
Right out of high school joined the Marines. After that earned an AA degree in Video Production and Electronics which helped me to get jobs as a Slot Mechanic and later as a Stage Tech in Lake Tahoe. I am a Certified Property Manager and did that for 10 years.
All the while trying to be a writer and an artist. Have a bit of the vagabond spirit in me.
I have visited China, the Philippines, and Mexico. I would still like to see Japan, Spain, England, and Canada. I also been through about 35 of the 50 states.
Lilian: Tell us your latest news?
About to finish my second novel, Dead to Rights.
Are you a heels lady or boots? From my point of view, I like when a woman in a pair of jeans can rock a pair of cowboy boots.
Myself, I like to wear tennis shoes.
Lilian: When and why did you begin writing?
My love for the movies. My writing really started when I wanted to write screenplays.
Had a desire to be behind the camera but found myself drawn to wanting to create the stories.
Lilian: When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I took a screenwriting course at U.C.L.A. at night while as I was working for Warner Bros. during the day. At the end of the course, you would have the first 15 pages of your screenplay done. When my professor said he wanted to read my screenplay when it was completed, it made me feel pretty good.
Lilian: How did you come up with the title?
My first novel, Guardian of the Red Butterfly, had a different title but as I was finishing the story, it didn't seem to fit. Once I had named the katana in the story, The Guardian, and the girl's code name was, Red Butterfly, it fell into place.
My second novel, Dead to Rights, was there from the beginning but evolved to have a deeper meaning as the story played out.
Lilian: What inspired you to write your first book?
After I finished the screenplay for Guardian of the Red Butterfly, my friend and editor suggested I turn it into a novel. So with her encouragement, I gave it a shot.
Lilian: Do you have a specific writing style?
Well, my editor once said, “You can't write it that way.” And I said, “Why not?”
Lilian: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
There's no real message. I would just prefer the reader enjoy the story and allow me to take them on the same journey I saw in my mind and make them feel as if they were at the movies having a good time.
Lilian: How much of the book is realistic?
The locations in Guardian of the Red Butterfly are real, including the Shanghai Tunnels that run under a part of Portland known as the Pearl District.
Lilian: Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Guardian of the Red Butterfly has some Asian cultural aspects to it that I learned on my visits to Hong Kong and Beijing.
Dead to Rights has a character that is former military. I joined the Marines right out of high school.
Lilian: What books have most influenced your life most?
The one that really got me excited to write was “How to Make a Good Script Great” by Linda Seger. As far a books, I remember having the Hardy Boys collection.
Lilian: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
Always loved a good mystery..and Alfred Hitchcock. Later, books by David Morrell.
Lilian: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
David Morrell. He is best know for creating Rambo but I have about 20 of his novels in my collection. I took a weekend seminar with him and he encouraged me to finish writing Guardian of the Red Butterfly by saying he wanted to read it when I was done.
With his permission, I used Mr. Morrell's last name for my main character's family name in the novel.
Lilian: What book are you reading now?
A few book on writing and as far as fiction, Lee Child.
Lilian: What are your current projects?
Just about to wrap up dead to Rights then I want to start on the sequel to Guardian of the Red Butterfly with Guardian of the Monarch Moon. I am planning on 3 books in the series.
Lilian: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members.
T. J. Monarch, my friend and editor.
Lilian: Do you see writing as a career?
I can see it, Yes! I just hope it is not an illusion.
I hope to make a career through novels and screenplays.
Lilian: If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
It's like being an artist. Once you are done, it is done. But, as the artist, you can always see a flaw others can not so why point it out.
Every story is a learning experience and hopefully we, as writers, learn from each project and get better.
Lilian: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
The format. I see movies in my head so I write visually and put it down as a screenplay then when I started to write novels had to find the balance between the two formats and still be happy and able to tell my story.
Lilian: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
Just sitting in a movie theater and enjoying be taken in by the story and wondering “what if “ this or that happens. Then when it doesn't, you say to yourself, “Hey, that was my idea” and you write it down.
Lilian: Can you share a little of your current work with us?
Dead to Rights is about a woman who must learn to trust a man she thinks was hired to kill her husband but was actually hired to kill her. Robert Westmore a prominent Dist. Atty. hires an assassin to fake his death and blame it on his wife as a murder suicide. Payton, the hired assassin, doesn't agree to double-cross to kill the wife, Marisa. Payton instead decides to save Marisa's life putting both their lives in jeopardy and now the two are on the run together.
Lilian: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work? David Morrell His first novel was, First Blood, which introduced us to Rambo, created a new genre in the action thriller. Some of his other novels such as, Brotherhood of the Rose, The Protector, Creepers, and Double Image are both original and visual thrillers that I can see is movies one day. I asked him about early on in Double Image killing off what I thought was a central character in the story and he said, “Once you have set the story in motion and hooked your reader, it's up to you as a writer to tell your story.” After that, I never felt I had to write for the reader but to write for myself and take the reader my journey.
Lilian: Do you have to travel much concerning your book(s)?
I don't do a love of traveling for my books but have used my travels as experience in them. But I would like one day to go to Japan because of the story I have created with Aiko and the Guardian of the Red Butterfly series.
Lilian: Who designed the covers?
The concepts for the covers are mine but for Guardian of the Red Butterfly Antonio Cordova was the photographer and his girlfriend, Mariana Suarez is the model. For Dead to Rights, a friend I met online by the name of Kei Yoshino from Japan created the cover for me.
Lilian: What was the hardest part of writing your book?
In a word, “Distractions.”
Lilian: Do you remember the first book you read?
Not really, but the one that really got my attention with a novel can do was,Wolfen, by Whitley Strieber. I liked how the story drew me in and made me feel for the characters and before I know it, the sympathy I felt was not for the humans in the story but for the wolves and seeing it from their perspective.
Lilian: Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?
Even if you are writing fiction, I learned you may have a story you want to tell but if you create good characters they will tell you their story and that gives the story it's honesty.
Lilian: Do you have any advice for other writers?
Write your story first. Don't edit as you go. Once you find your story which isn't usually near the end of the process then you can go back and edit.
Lilian: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
I hope you enjoy the stories that I have to tell and when you are done, please share with your friends because word-of-mouth is the best form of advertising. And if you really liked it, please go to Amazon or Good Reads and leave a review. We as writers need that support, thank you.
Lilian: Other than writing do you have any hobbies?
Going to the movies, reading, I enjoy doing artwork but don't have a lot of extra time to do that and occasionally take a walk on the river and do a little fishing, and once in a while get in a game of golf. I also enjoy traveling and discovering new places and people.
Lilian: What makes you laugh/cry?
I'm a fan of Robin Williams and Steve Martin. As far as what can make me cry, I've worked with the Special Olympics and I'm always touched by the athlete was about to cross the finish line and stops and goes back and helps someone who has fallen to get back up and then watch them cross the finish line together. That always gets me.
Lilian: Is there one person pass or present you would meet and why?
Steven Spielberg. He's just a master storyteller.
Lilian: Favorite foods / Colors/ Music?
I enjoy all kinds of food. I like to BBQ.
If I had to pick a color guess would be green.
Although I do like all kinds of music, I like the 70's the best.
Lilian: What TV shows/films do you enjoy watching?
I like action thrillers, whodunits, and an occasional romantic comedy. It usually comes down to, who wrote it, directed it, and stars in it?
Lilian: If you were not a writer what else would you like to have done?
I've always wanted to be a cinematographer.
Lilian: Do you have a blog/website? If so what is it?
I have a Facebook page for my novel, Guardian of the Red Butterfly and an author's page at D.S. Cuellar.
When the Facebook page for Guardian of the Red Butterfly reaches 1800 Likes I will be having a drawing and giving away a signed copy of the book and a tote bag. When we reach 2000 Likes, there will be a drawing for a replica katana just like one used in the novel, signed books, a t-shirt, and a tote bag.