Lars Guignard's Blog, page 16
February 17, 2014
Zoe & Zak and the Yogi’s Curse Audiobook Tour
Please check out what these bloggers have to say about the audiobook of Zoe & Zak and the Yogi’s Curse narrated by Sonja Field. And please leave your comments!
TOUR SCHEDULE:
2/17/14:
“The audiobook is fantastic. The narrator does an amazing job of capturing the personality of these two young characters and the author has a gift for weaving far away cultures and myths into an enjoyable and entertaining adventure. I enjoyed many laughs and was anxious to get back to the story each night to see what would happen next.” – Gin’s Book Notes
“The story is fun and fasted paced and will keep you intrigued up until the last page. I recommend this book to tweens, teens, and adults who may want to unleash the adventurous kid trapped somewhere inside them.” – Victoria Simcox’s Blog
2/18/14:
“Lars Guignard has a great imagination and his love for India shines through in his writing. The adventures of Zoe and Zak will hopefully continue with many more unusual animals and mysteries. Sonja Fields’ narration brings the story to life with her varied voices and accents and makes the novel fly by as you listen.” – Buried in Books
“Zoe and Zak both have distinctive voices and strong personalities and they both shined in this book. They were funny, though they got serious when they needed to. I laughed at times and other times sat on the edge of my seat because it was so intense.” – Candace’s Book Blog
2/19/14:
“I loved the play on characters returning and new bad guys and the overall adventure and mysteries the kids solve while trying to figure out what is going one. LOVE IT.” – Cover2Cover
2/21/14:
“I absolutely loved listening to this book and I’m sure reading it would have been just as awesome. Adults and kids alike will enjoy this book.” – Book Loving Hippo
2/24/14:
“If you are looking for a fun book filled with magic and adventure and also learn a little about the Indian culture then I recommend this book. I give this book 5 stars.” – alwaysjoart
2/25/14:
“I love Zoe & Zak, they are so much fun to read about! . . . Best parts about this book was definitely the Indian culture, the mystery, and the magical powers. Definitely perfect for MG and even some YA readers that want to take a break from werewolves and cheating boyfriends.” - Spiced Latte Reads
I highly recommend this series for fans of middle grade fantasy, especially for younger middle grade readers, and the audio, at least for book two, is a fantastic way to experience the story.” – Alice Marvels
2/27/14
“This is a great adventure story for middle grade readers that will keep them engaged and asking questions.” – JR’s Book Reviews
“Zoe and Zak and the Yogi Curse is just as action packed and full of fun as the first installment in the Magic Fantasy Action Adventure series. I certainly can’t wait to get my hands on the next book in this magical series, Zoe and Zak and the Tiger Temple. Lars has created a wonderful series here for boys and girls alike.” – MHZ Book Reviews and Giveaways
“…Sonja’s presentation of both Zoe & Zak as well as the rest of the cast was very enjoyable. Each character was distinct so MS never felt the internal need as to guess which character it was supposed to be.” – Mad Steam
“Zoe & Zak and the Yogi’s Curse by Lars Guignard is one of my favorite middle grade books. I have an eleven year old daughter, and she has enjoyed Zoe & Zak’s adventures as much as I have. . . . The narrator does a great job of telling their story. . . . If you (and your kiddos) enjoy action, adventure and mystery, this is a wonderful series to pick up.” – Brooke Blogs
2/28/14
“Lars Guignard has created two incredibly likeable characters. His writing style is catchy, witty, and superbly understated in all the right places. The descriptions of India, the settings, the other characters, and the environment are intense, focused, and perfectly suited for young readers. . . . I rate this audiobook a glorious 5 stars.” – Let’s Talk Books
3/1/14
“This book was fun and very magical, if you enjoyed Harry Potter or Percy Jackson I think you will love this series! The setting of India is awesome, monkeys and elephants and lizards oh my! And of course mystery abounds :) But I also loved the educational parts of the books – you get to meet a lot of other characters with different backgrounds/ethnicities. The author manages to take what would be a difficult situation of being in a boarding house for kids and somehow make it fun and adventurous for all the kids. I can see this becoming a popular movie series because the characters are so awesome and I think a lot of people would love the story! All in all this is a magically delicious story and I highly recommend the audiobook version.” – WS Momma Readers Nook
Happening Now: Zoe & Zak and the Yogi’s Curse Audiobook Tour
Please check out what these bloggers have to say about the audiobook of Zoe & Zak and the Yogi’s Curse narrated by Sonja Field. And please leave your comments!
TOUR SCHEDULE:
2/17/14:
“The audiobook is fantastic. The narrator does an amazing job of capturing the personality of these two young characters and the author has a gift for weaving far away cultures and myths into an enjoyable and entertaining adventure. I enjoyed many laughs and was anxious to get back to the story each night to see what would happen next.” – Gin’s Book Notes
“The story is fun and fasted paced and will keep you intrigued up until the last page. I recommend this book to tweens, teens, and adults who may want to unleash the adventurous kid trapped somewhere inside them.” – Victoria Simcox’s Blog
2/18/14:
“Lars Guignard has a great imagination and his love for India shines through in his writing. The adventures of Zoe and Zak will hopefully continue with many more unusual animals and mysteries. Sonja Fields’ narration brings the story to life with her varied voices and accents and makes the novel fly by as you listen.” – Buried in Books
“Zoe and Zak both have distinctive voices and strong personalities and they both shined in this book. They were funny, though they got serious when they needed to. I laughed at times and other times sat on the edge of my seat because it was so intense.” – Candace’s Book Blog
2/19/14:
“I loved the play on characters returning and new bad guys and the overall adventure and mysteries the kids solve while trying to figure out what is going one. LOVE IT.” – Cover2Cover
2/21/14:
“I absolutely loved listening to this book and I’m sure reading it would have been just as awesome. Adults and kids alike will enjoy this book.” – Book Loving Hippo
2/24/14:
“If you are looking for a fun book filled with magic and adventure and also learn a little about the Indian culture then I recommend this book. I give this book 5 stars.” – alwaysjoart
2/25/14:
“I love Zoe & Zak, they are so much fun to read about! . . . Best parts about this book was definitely the Indian culture, the mystery, and the magical powers. Definitely perfect for MG and even some YA readers that want to take a break from werewolves and cheating boyfriends.” - Spiced Latte Reads
“I highly recommend this series for fans of middle grade fantasy, especially for younger middle grade readers, and the audio, at least for book two, is a fantastic way to experience the story.” – Alice Marvels
2/26/14
WS Momma Readers Nook
2/27/14
Brooke Blogs
JR’s Book Reviews
MHZ Book Reviews and Giveaways
2/28
Mad Steam
Let’s Talk Books
Zoe & Zak and the Yogi’s Curse Audiobook Tour Starts Today
Please check out what these bloggers have to say about the audiobook of Zoe & Zak and the Yogi’s Curse narrated by Sonja Field. And please leave your comments!
Tour Schedule:
2/17
Gin’s Book Notes
Victoria Simcox’s Blog
2/18
Buried in Books
Candace’s Book Blog
2/19
Our Wolves Den
Cover2Cover
2/20
Let’s Talk Books
2/21
Book Loving Hippo
2/24
alwaysjoart
2/25
Alice Marvels
Spiced Latte Reads
2/26
WS Momma Readers Nook
2/27
Brooke Blogs
JR’s Book Reviews
MHZ Book Reviews and Giveaways
2/28
Mad Steam
February 15, 2014
Enter to Win $100
Zoe & Zak and the Tiger Temple is currently on a blog tour with MotherDaughterBookReviews.com. As part of that tour, we are holding a $100 giveaway. See details below. Good Luck!
Last semester, Zoe and Zak returned the first lost Noble Truth to its rightful home. Now, Zoe and Zak are back in India for their second semester at Moonstock Himalayan Academy. School kicks off with the Activity Week Challenge in the tiny mountain kingdom of Bhutan where the students must deliver medical supplies. Things, however, take a turn for the worse, when Zak becomes deathly ill after an encounter with a strange floating bubble. On returning to Moonstock, Zoe and Zak discover that a creature has come through the lava hole far below their dormitory. When Zoe and Zak follow the creature, they soon discover what they must do. They have been tasked with finding the second lost Noble Truth — the Tiger Eye of Justice. Finding the Tiger Eye sounds like an impossible mission, and it’s only made more confusing when Zak discovers that he has been given a supernatural power to help them with their task– a power which Zak, for the life of him, just can’t control. But he’s going to have to learn how to use his new ability, because if Zoe and Zak can’t find the Tiger Eye quickly, Zak’s time will run out.
Interview with Sonja Field, Audiobook Narrator of Zoe & Zak and the Yogi’s Curse
Zoe & Zak and the Yogi’s Curse is now an audiobook narrated by the talented Sonja Field.
Q: How did you get into narrating audiobooks?
Sonja: I’ve always wanted to do audiobooks. I have a good friend who’s been recording audiobooks for a few years now, and she told me about a website, acx.com, where publishers post auditions directly on the site, and you can audition for whatever book you want – as long as you’re then able to produce a high-quality recording on your own. I invested in equipment and taught myself how to use it, and then dove right in.
Q: Describe your recording space.
Sonja: I have a sound-proofed closet that I lock myself in. I hang quilts and blankets to deaden the room. I have my microphone and other equipment on a table in front of me, and my laptop on a table to my left. It feels pretty funny at first to be spending so much time inside a closet, but you get used to it. 
Q: What is your process when you are recording an audio book?
Sonja: Every book is a bit different. For Yogi’s Curse, I would sit down and record an entire chapter without stopping. If I made a mistake, I’d just pause, say the sentence correctly, and continue recording, rather than going back and re-recording over the mistake in the moment. I like to get a good flow going.
Afterwards I would go back and listen to the chapter I’d just recorded while editing out any mistakes and all of my audible breaths. After that, Maria from Fantastic Press would have a listen and let me know if there were any other edits to be made. Finally I would master the track and upload it to the website.
Q: Describe a typical recording session. How long do you read? Do you take a lot of breaks? What do you drink?
Sonja: Again, it varies! While I was recording Yogi’s Curse, I was also rehearsing for 2 separate plays that I was about to perform in a rotating repertory. This left me with very specific and strange pockets of time in which to work. Typically I would wake up early in the morning, record a chapter, and start editing it. I would finish editing when I got home – sometimes as late as 10pm – and would be uploading tracks into the wee hours of the morning.
Since my schedule was so crazy, I didn’t really have time to take breaks – I had to just power through. I always have water with me as I record, or coffee – depending on the day.
Q: Zoe & Zak and the Yogi’s Curse has a lot of different accents as well as a lot of Hindi words. How did you prepare for reading that?
Sonja: I love doing accents, so many of them were already in my back pocket. I did research on Indian accents before reading those characters. Accent research mostly consists of watching YouTube videos, studying the accent’s particular sound changes, and really internalizing the music and rhythm of the accent. Maria provided me with a really helpful pronunciation guide for the Hindi words, as well – I would not have known how to do those!
Q: What did you like most about recording Zoe & Zak and the Yogi’s Curse?
Sonja: I had a wonderful time recording overall. I loved that the story was always moving forward – never a dull moment! I loved that I had the opportunity to create so many distinct character voices.
Q: What was the most challenging part of the process for you?
Sonja: Probably the editing, since it was so time-consuming and I didn’t have a lot of extra time in my schedule. Reading the book was absolutely delightful!
Q: Which of the characters did you feel the strongest personal connection with?
Sonja: Definitely Zoe. How can you not? The book is from her perspective. She’s brave and compassionate and always wants to do the right thing.
Q: Who is your favorite character?
Sonja: Zak cracks me up. He’s got a great sense of humor and a fun, easygoing attitude about life. He’s a supportive friend and a great counterpart to Zoe, who gets very task-focused and business-like, and sometimes stresses out about all the things she has to do. Zak is great at balancing her out and helping her see the fun side of life.
Q: What was the hardest voice for you?
Sonja: Talusar’s voice was pretty challenging! I found it very vocally demanding.
Q: Which part of the story was the most fun to narrate?
Sonja: All of the dialogue between Zoe and Zak was a lot of fun to do. They have such an entertaining relationship and a particularly fun dynamic.
Q: Why is this a good story to listen to?
Sonja: This is a great story to listen to because there are so many fun, unique characters and a new adventure in every chapter. There’s an intriguing mystery that gets introduced in the beginning, with a super cool twist at the end.
Q: Who would enjoy this story?
Sonja: Kids who like adventure or fantasy books would enjoy this story. I think it would be equally appealing to both girls and boys.
The audiobook of Zoe & Zak and the Yogi’s Curse is available at audible and iTunes.
Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard (Book #1 in the series) is also available as an audiobook at audible, and iTunes.
January 31, 2014
Backpacker Inspiration
Why China?
Why did I set my thriller Lethal Circuit in China? China is always in the news these days. It’s supposed to bail out the world economy. It’s where all the jobs went. It’s eclipsed the USA as a superpower. Every headline you read is China, China, China. So why did I set Lethal Circuit there? The answer is not for any of the reasons above.
I got the idea for Lethal Circuit while in Hong Kong working on a TV show. I think I need to back up here. Awhile back I flew from Los Angeles to Hong Kong for the weekend. It was a long way to go for a short visit, but my wife needed some samples delivered from a Chinese factory and believe it or not, buying me a ticket to accompany her was the quickest and cheapest way of getting them back in time. So I went to Hong Kong for the weekend with every intention of being back bright and early Monday morning.
The thing was, once I got to Hong Kong I loved it there. The place was incredible. The food, the architecture, the 24/7 neon. The city was an adrenalin rush and I didn’t want to leave. I was working in Los Angeles as a screenwriter at the time, but my current assignment had me working remotely on a television show that was shooting in Canada. I owed them a script, but I didn’t need to show up in the office. So we figured out the thing with the samples, I kissed my wife goodbye, and I planned to stay on for a few weeks in Hong Kong.
Everything went surprisingly well. I managed to get my drafts of the show I was working on into the production offices, I read their notes, I even had a couple of phone meetings, and other than the fact that I had to be up at odd hours, nobody asked where I was. Work wise, it was as though I hadn’t left.
But inspiration wise, I was in hyper drive. I’d done a lot of traveling after college, going around the world more than once with nothing but the shoes on my feet and the backpack on my back. I’d set that aside to work as a screenwriter in Los Angeles, but I’d always felt a strong wanderlust. Now, being back in Asia for the first time, I found myself drawn like a magnet to the legions of backpackers I saw crisscrossing Hong Kong.
There’s a global right of passage known as a gap year or year abroad that Americans are just warming up to. Between high school and college, or college and grad school, or just high school and that first real job, a lot of people worldwide take an extended backpacking tour around the globe. I knew I had done it, and I was pleased to see that the phenomenon was alive and well. The thing was, seeing all those backpackers this time, I didn’t just want to join them, I wanted to write about them.
So I started to use my time in Hong Kong to piece together a book. The first thing was I knew I wanted my protagonist to be a backpacker — a low-budget traveler taking in the sights. And I knew I wanted to set the story in Hong Kong and maybe mainland China. My wife was due back to Hong King to meet me in a couple of weeks and we were planning on doing a bit of a tour around the Southeastern part of the country, so I was excited to use that opportunity to check things out.
The second thing was, I wanted to show the real China. The China that I saw. Not China filtered through media stories and official sources, but the place I saw in the street. Because I’d already learned that China wasn’t the place that a lot of people thought it was. Take a Chinese factory. I’m sure they have huge technological marvels where everybody runs around on sparkling floors with fantastically expensive machinery doing half the work, but the factories I saw were more like your Uncle Joe’s Auto Repair Garage – a few people gathered together in a dusty building making something.
So I figured I would write about things as backpacker would see them from the street level. This was fiction after all, so I knew my backpacker needed a little more reason to be in China than just the fact that he was seeing the world, so I decided that he was there searching for his missing father. So I had a character, a backpacker. And I had setting, the real China, but I’d worked in television long enough to know that even with the element of the missing father, I was still a long way from having a story.
Enter Espionage. I was leaving Hong Kong and crossing over to the city of Shenzhen in mainland China when it came to me. The border itself is an incredibly secure affair where you have to go through one set of immigration agents simply to leave Hong Kong and another set to enter China. It was the kind of gritty, fantastically crowded, high tension affair that sparked my imagination.
I’d known people in my past. People who went to elite universities. Friends of friends who used to be gregarious, sharing every detail of their lives who had suddenly clammed up. The girl who went on in extravagant detail about her visit to the doctor or last night’s party was suddenly silent about what she’d been doing for the last three years. All she’d tell you was that she was working some low-level data entry job in Washington, D.C and that she often flew to obscure locations around the globe. Put that together with the fact she majored in languages, and her parents didn’t have any better idea what she was up to than you did, and the answer started to take shape – there was a decent probability that she now worked for the CIA.
It was at that moment, in that subterranean border crossing between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, that I knew I had the story for what would become Lethal Circuit. It would be about a backpacker in search of his missing father in mainland China. It would feature the real China, the China as I saw it from the street level. And the whole thing would be tied together by a dangerous thread of espionage. I crafted Lethal Circuit based on these elements, threw in some cool tech and history, and ended up with what I think is an awesome thriller that’s a fun ride through the Middle Kingdom.
So in the end my two day trip to Hong Kong ended up being a two month stay, but I came back with the first draft of Lethal Circuit, and yes, the TV show got done too.
January 15, 2014
New Book Release: Blog Review Tour for Zoe & Zak and the Tiger Temple
Tiger Temple Blog Tour Schedule (2014)
January 15
Mother Daughter Book Reviews (Launch & Review)
Mary-andering Among the Pages (Review)
January 16
January 17
January 19
Nik’s Picks Book Reviews (Review)
January 20
January 21
Black Words – White Pages Kids (Review)
January 22
For the Love of Books (Review)
January 24
January 25
January 27
January 28
Fantasy Fun With Kirstin Pulioff (Review)
January 29
We are the DinoFamily (Review)
Cheryl Carpinello’s Writing Pages (Review)
January 30
January 31
Giveaway Breaking News for Indonesia (Review)
February 1
February 2
February 3
February 5
February 6
Kay LaLone I Love Books (Review)
February 8
February 9
The Omnibus Publishing (Review)
February 10
February 11
February 12
February 13
Heart of a Philanthropist (Review)
February 14
Cassandra Lost in Books (Review)
October 22, 2013
ON SALE October 22 to 24
$0.99 at amazon
“Awesome! ~ I am 11 and I liked the book because I love adventures. It was a different kind of adventure from what I usually read and it was funny too. ” ~ 5-Star Review from J. Olsen, Amazon
“This was a fun read. This book [...]
August 11, 2013
The Sequel to Zoe & Zak and the Ghost Leopard is Here
Whoo! Thanks for waiting. The sequel to Ghost Leopard is finally here.
Zoe and Zak are at it again and this time they’re not just visiting India, they’re going off to boarding school in the Himalayas. Of course, this is Zoe and Zak we’re talking about and they soon discover that their new [...]
