My Splendid Concubine - Author Interview - Lloyd Lofthouse

Lloyd Lofthouse, author of the historical fiction novel, My Splendid Concubine and a Southern California Native, has graciously agreed to join us for two days here at The Real Hollywood. Lloyd is on his first virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion!

About the Author:
As a field radio operator, Lloyd Lofthouse was a walking target in Vietnam in 1966. He has skied in blizzards at forty below zero and climbed mountains in hip deep snow.

Lloyd earned a BA in journalism after fighting in Vietnam as a U.S. Marine. Later, while working days as an English teacher at a high school in California, he earned an MFA in writing. He enjoyed a job as a maitre d’ in a multimillion-dollar nightclub and tried his hand successfully at counting cards in Las Vegas for a few years. He now lives near San Francisco with his wife, with a second home in Shanghai, China.


Book Review"Love for ones wives' sister is typically forbidden by most Western religions, but the most successful Westerner in Chinese history is faced with this conflict. "My Splendid Concubine" is the tale of Robert Hart who deals with matters of his lust and how to deal with them the Chinese way, which so conflict with his upbringing. The Taiping Rebellion doesn't help matters, him making enemies of established and skilled mercenaries in the process of protecting his interest and the women he loves. "My Splendid Concubine" is packed cover to cover with intriguing characters and plot, a must read for historical fiction fans and a fine addition to any collection on the genre."
--Midwest Book Reviews






Hi Lloyd,

Welcome to The Real Hollywood’s Book Chat,

Thank you for having me as a guest.

RH: If your book were sold for movie rights which actor/actress would you want to play the main character?

LL: Since Colin Farrell is a native of Dublin, Ireland, I’d select him to play the lead. I believe he would understand Robert Hart better than most. Of course, the make-up artists would have to make Colin a bit younger since Robert Hart was nineteen when he arrived in China in 1854. That shouldn’t be difficult since Colin has a youthful look.

RH: Who would you want to play the supporting characters?

LL: For the Chinese actors in the My Splendid Concubine movie, I’d like to see a talent search similar to the one that found Brandon Walters who starred with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackson in Australia. It would be ideal to find a young, talented Chinese girl about nineteen to play Ayaou.

RH: If your book was already sold for movie rights, tell how it felt to be approached by Hollywood and what the journey has been like.

LL: Since I’ve been through it with my wife for every book she’s written, I’d appreciate the check but wouldn’t hold my breath since Hollywood buys the rights to hundreds if not thousands of stories that are never made into movies. For almost two decades someone has bought the film rights to my wife’s books and none of them have made it to the big screen—yet. However, if My Splendid Concubine started production, I’d probably wake up worried everyday wondering how close to the book the movie would turn out and pray that the script wouldn’t stray too far from Robert Hart’s character and the history of that time.

RH: Who is your favorite actor and/or actress?

LL: That’s a hard question. I don’t have a favorite. I see a lot of movies and have a long list of favorite actors and actresses. Just to name a few: Julia Roberts, Tom Hanks, Meg Ryan, Anthony Hopkins, Mel Gibson, Bette Midler, Robert Redford, Sally Field, Kevin Costner, Russell Crowe, Clint Eastwood, Denzel Washington, Helen Mirren—I could fill pages.

RH: Is there a movie you could watch over and over again?

LL: It wouldn’t be fair to all the others I’ve enjoyed more than once to name one. I’ve watched The Lord of the Rings; Pretty Woman; The Postman; Gladiator; Master and Commander; The Electric Horseman; The Bodyguard; Waterworld; Ghost more than once—as you can see, I have an extensive collection of videos and DVDs. These are a few.

RH: Who is your favorite author?

LL: James Lee Burke. He’s at the top of my list.

RH: What books have you read by this author?

LL: I’ve read all Burke’s books and seen Heaven’s Prisoners (1996) starring Alec Baldwin.

RH: Burke’s book, In the Electric Mist, is scheduled to be released March 2009. Tommy Lee Jones stars. This actor should have been on the list above. I will certainly see this move. When I see that Tommy Lee Jones is in a movie, I go.

RH: What is next on the horizon for you?

LL: Finish Our Hart, the sequel to My Splendid Concubine and complete a memoir I’m writing in my spare time (laughs) that focuses on when I was an English/journalism teacher working at a rough, barrio high school. After that, I will return to a mystery I finished years ago based on when I was the maitre d’ in a nightclub called the Red Onion. I want to revise that mystery and publish it after the memoir. I’ve been writing and improving my craft for decades (since 1968) and have a lot of material to revise, polish and publish. I’m planning to start a small press too and publish other deserving authors—one or two a year since I’ll be a one man operation.

RH: Where can my readers find your website?

www.mysplendidconcubine.com
I thank you being sharing your book with The Real Hollywood, and I wish you continued success on your virtual book tour.

You are welcome, and I want to thank The Real Hollywood’s Book Chat for having me as a guest. It was a pleasure.