#AuthorInterview with Janice Rostron

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Katie Specht is talking with Janice Rostron, author of Time Is Power: Create Space for What Matters Most.

FQ: Tell our readers a little about yourself. Your background, your interests, and how this led to writing a book?

ROSTRON: I am a Professional Organizer and the owner/operator of Just Focus and Reorganize, LLC (JFR). I have been organizing the spaces around me for as far back as I can remember—just ask my family, friends, former roommates, and colleagues!

My experience and wide range of interests have given me the ability to create and maintain a balanced lifestyle. I believe that simplicity is the key to success.

I started playing guitar as a shy, introverted 12-year-old. In my late twenties, I tackled my stage fright and joined a band. I have played shows throughout California and has recorded two full-length albums and one EP (during which time I earned the moniker “Janice F'n Reid” a.k.a. “JFR”).

I received a BA in Legal Studies (with a minor in Music) from UC Berkeley and have since joined the Cal Alumni Association. GO BEARS! I then earned an MEd and a Multiple Subject teaching credential from UCLA. I worked as a public elementary school teacher for eight years before deciding to pursue a career in Professional Organizing.

I am an active member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO). I have earned NAPO Specialist Certificates in Workplace Productivity and Team Productivity. I served as the Los Angeles chapter’s Treasurer for the 2016–2017 term. I was the leader of NAPO’s Environmentally-Conscious Organizers special interest group for the 2020–2023 terms.

I am also a subscriber to the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) and have earned a Level II Chronic Disorganization Specialist Certificate.

I love working one-on-one with my clients and enjoy speaking to groups about organization and productivity.

In 2022, I moved to Denver to grow the business … and purchase my first home. I took advantage of my new-found time during this transitional period to write the productivity book that I had been thinking of for a few years.

Author Janice Rostron

FQ: Tell us a little about your book – a brief synopsis and what makes your book unique.

ROSTRON: I created Time Is Power to help you take back the power you have over your time so you can spend it on what matters most. I combat the idea that productivity is about getting as much done as possible in the shortest amount of time. Instead, I define productivity as getting the right things done, at the right time, with the right amount of energy.

Time Is Power is designed to make obligation and information overload more manageable. It is a step-by-step journey to a more productive life by showing you how to prioritize what’s important, simplify your systems, and delegate what you can.

This book is unique because it is designed to be practical and actionable. It was inspired not only by my 10 years as a Professional Organizer, but also my own journey from burned out teacher to balanced and thriving business owner.

FQ: Why did you decide to write this book? Did you see a need?

ROSTRON: This book started out as my pandemic project. I am a Professional Organizer and I work primarily in-person in my clients' homes. Once the pandemic hit in 2020, and it was no longer safe to work in-person, my business ground to a halt. I decided to create an online productivity course to supplement my income. This was something that had been in the back of my mind for a few years, but I suddenly had the time to bring it to life. My clients are often overwhelmed by information and obligation overload and I knew this information would be helpful to them.

After teaching two rounds of the online course, I was able to resume my in-person services and had to put the course content on the back burner. Then, in 2022, I moved from Los Angeles to Denver to expand my business and purchase my first home. I took advantage of the new-found time during this transition period and turned the 10 modules of the online course into a 10-chapter book.

FQ: Have you done any presentations in your field at conferences, etc.?

ROSTRON: I do a few presentations every year in my field. I have spoken to alumni associations, business networking groups, and moms' groups. I enjoy combining my passion for education and my love of organizing and productivity consulting into these presentations.

FQ: Did you have “Beta Readers” review your manuscript and if so, what sort of feedback did you receive? Was it nerve-wracking waiting for their responses?

ROSTRON: I had "Beta Readers" review my manuscript and I received such great feedback that I knew I was on the right track. I specifically chose readers that would be my target demographic (small business owners and mothers with too much on their plates). It was nerve-wracking waiting for their responses, but once I got their positive responses to the topics covered and some useful constructive criticism, I had the confidence to pursue the publishing process in earnest.

Fore more information on Time Is Power: Create Space for What Matters Most, please visit the author's website at: https://www.jfnr.net/books.

 #Bookreview of Major Jake Fortina and the Tier One Threat

By: Ralph R. "Rick" Steinke

Publisher: Koehler Books

Publication Date: July 26, 2022

ISBN: 978-1-64663-733-1

Reviewed by: Kathy Stickles

Review Date: October 2, 2024

Major Jake Fortina and the Tier One Threat is an excellent first novel in this series that I would highly recommend to fans of thriller and espionage novels. With a very well-woven storyline and a fabulous protagonist in the form of US Army Major Jake Fortina, this is a novel that will keep you engaged, eagerly anticipating what will happen next from the first page to the last.

Major Jake Fortina and the Tier One Threat begins on an exciting note as two terrorists break into the graves of two Jewish-Americans that are buried in a small cemetery outside of Paris. Why are they doing such a thing and what have they taken become the first unknowns in a long line of questions as the story moves on (and that is all in the first few pages). Major Fortina, who works with the military and is stationed in Paris, is called upon to join forces with the FBI and law enforcement in France and Italy as the terrorists’ plan is brought to the forefront. We then learn that the terrorists are planning to release a terrifying and new biological virus that will not only be worse than the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918, but will also target Americans and Jews in the hopes of eradicating them completely from the world.

This story is the international thriller that many fans have been waiting to read. It ranks right up there with the amazing novels that Tom Clancy gave us. The plot of the story is very well-written and thought-out. This author has used his excellent writing ability as well as his real-life background to put together a story that is interesting, factual, suspenseful, and grabs you from the very beginning. All of the characters are well-developed and become people that you will care about and want to see succeed. It was very interesting to see how all of the different countries and agencies worked together to protect the world and the author’s background and research put us right in the middle of the action in a fascinating manner.

One of the best things about this story was the numerous flashbacks included which helped the reader follow the life of the main character, allowing us to see what he has already survived and witness how he ended up in his current state of life. Jake is very strong, very brave, and very smart. He is a protagonist that will appeal to many and it was so interesting to watch the development of his character through these flashbacks as the story progressed. Through this character, as well as others, the reader is given a very real and honest glimpse into what happens when those who are fully trained are immersed into a world of espionage where it is their goal to protect the world around them.

Major Jake Fortina and the Tier One Threat is a riveting and suspenseful story that I would definitely recommend to others. There is something in these pages for everyone: action, mystery, suspense, emotion, twists and turns you will never anticipate, and even some romance and it is all combined perfectly. I know that I will be running to read the subsequent stories in this series, because I honestly cannot wait to see what Jake and the others get up to next. I am sure, after you read this story, you will feel the exact same way.

Quill says: Major Jake Fortina and the Tier One Threat gives fans of the thriller novel a new author and character to watch. I personally see a lot of adventures in Jake’s future and that is definitely something to look forward. The only thing that could make these adventures better would be seeing them on the big screen. Jake may just be everyone’s new Jack Ryan.

For more information about Major Jake Fortina and the Tier One Threat, please visit the author's website at: www.ricksteinke.com

 #Bookreview of Oliver the Oyster Saves Santa

By: J.B. Auchter

Illustrated by: Ayan Mansoori

Publication Date: September 13, 2024

ISBN: 979-8336717792

Reviewed by: Diana Coyle

Review Date: October 1, 2024

In Oliver the Oyster Saves Santa by J.B. Auchter, Oliver the Oyster and his friends, Cathy the Crab, and Miriah the Mermaid are all excited because it’s Christmas Eve and Santa is on his way to deliver presents to everyone.

While having a sleepover together, they think they hear a loud noise outside. They decide to go see where it came from. They begin searching around to find the loud noise and in the process they overhear people talking nearby. They decide to hide behind some tall seagrass in hopes of catching a glimpse of who is making all this loud noise so late at night. When they hear and see who it is, they can’t believe their ears and eyes. Santa is stranded with his elves because they sustained damage to their sleigh while trying to come into Mayo Beach to deliver presents.

Unfortunately, there’s so much damage to his sleigh, they don’t know if the repairs will get done in time. So they all come up with a plan to get Santa back into his sleigh, in the quickest amount of time possible, while also delivering the Christmas presents to the people in Mayo Beach. But in order for them to achieve this goal, Oliver, Cathy, and Miriah must help Santa get the presents to everyone while he helps his elves fix the sleigh. What plan do Oliver, Cathy, and Miriah come up with to help Santa deliver his presents locally? Will the Christmas presents be delivered in time to save Christmas?

Readers of all ages will surely enjoy this next installment in the “Oliver the Oyster” series. We find Oliver, Cathy, and Miriah eagerly wanting to help Santa and his elves out, but they realize they don’t have Santa’s magical powers to get in and out of everyone’s house with grace and ease. So the three of them must come up with a creative plan to get the presents under the Christmas trees quickly and efficiently. As Oliver, Cathy, and Miriah develop a plan of action, even though it wasn’t going to be easy, children will learn that if you put your mind to something, no matter how complicated it might be, good things can come out of creativity, hard work, and working together as a team.

The illustrations provided by Ayan Mansoori were found scattered throughout this magical tale and were the perfect accompaniment to the written story. Each one was vibrantly colored, luring the readers deeper into the story as they eagerly turned the pages to see what the next delightful illustration would be. Each illustration allowed readers to feel as if they were another character in the story watching everything unfold before their eyes.

J.B. Auchter has this ongoing children’s series “Oliver the Oyster” set in the beautiful Cape Cod area. In each of his books, he cleverly intertwines seaside facts into his adventures to entertain, educate, and inspire his young readers. With his rich-in-detail writing style, readers will feel they are right there in Cape Cod as they go on the next adventure with Oliver the Oyster, Cathy the Crab, and Miriah the Mermaid. One notable fact worth mentioning is Auchter uses the proceeds from his book sales to support local charities, allowing him to give back to the community which has inspired his stories.

Quill says: Oliver the Oyster Saves Santa by J.B. Auchter is one book you shouldn’t miss. It is one in which will entertain and delight readers, both young and old. Plus, readers will relish the rich details describing the Cape Cod area as they turn each of the pages.

For more information on Oliver the Oyster Saves Santa, please visit the author’s website at: www.jbauchterbooks.com

 #Bookreview of Being Seen: My Journey To Self-Love

By: Katie Myers

Publisher: Love Who You Are Media

Publication Date: April 9, 2024

ISBN: 979-8990257917

Reviewed by: Lily Andrews

Review Date: October 1, 2024

Katie Myers candidly and openly recounts her life story in Being Seen: My Journey to Self-Love, helping families talk about their pains and fears while navigating her long-held secret, mental health concerns, addiction, and difficult-to-obtain acceptance.

Unbeknownst to everyone else, a depressed Myers left her home state of Indiana and headed to Canada, unsure of what to anticipate. All she wanted was a quick escape without understanding exactly what she was looking for. Her inability to fit in with other kids during her childhood had caused her to become increasingly reclusive. Her parents split when she was nine years old, leaving her father to raise her, despite his proclivity for dating other women. She became reliant on food during this difficult survival period, which led to a discernible gain in weight. Her only alternatives were to starve herself and over-exercise, followed by taking pills that would enhance her metabolism and make her feel less hungry, allowing her to lose weight even faster. At that moment, as she states in the book, she had no idea who she was or what her worth was. Nobody had ever told her.

Myers eventually got married and completed her master's degree while assiduously trying to hide her big, horrible secret from the outside world. The ultimate blow to her hope was the realization that she might never get pregnant. Just thinking about what other people might think of her was a continual source of worry for her.

In this book, she candidly discusses her struggles with depression, alcoholism, and suicide ideas. Given that she had lived a life driven by fear since a young age, it is unclear how long she would continue to help others stay afloat while herself was sinking. Deeper reading reveals how overthinking problems and overcomplicating situations lead to repeated cycles of depression and anxiety. Her story also reveals how solutions can just be within a person and not out there or with someone else.

Being Seen: My Journey to Self-Love seeks to encourage readers who may have similar hardships to shed their masks, be true to themselves, and stop trying to be someone they are not. It also significantly promotes healthy family-raising practices, including giving children ample time. While providing guidelines on how to steer clear of the many falsehoods that naturally follow people, the author's path is both compelling and inspirational. Other issues her story touches on are guilt, self-criticism, feeling like a failure, and how being out of step with your purpose manifests physically.

Quill says: It is important to discover who you are in the middle of the confusion that your mind and desire may generate. Anyone who wants to realize their goals, stop living up to the expectations of others, or begin believing in themselves should read this memoir. It is enlightening, realistic, and strikes all the right notes as a helpful manual for mental well-being, stability, and self-realization.

To learn more about Being Seen: My Journey To Self-Love, please visit the author’s website at: www.releasewithkatie.com/author

 #Bookreview of Ben and Blue: Searching for Lucky #3002

By: Ellen Melissa Cohen

Illustrated by: Donald Wu

Publisher: Red Chair Press Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: October 1, 2024

ISBN: 978-1643713731

Reviewed by: Kathy Stickles

Review Date: February 12, 2024

Ben and Blue: Searching for Lucky #3002 is, in this reviewer’s opinion, a fabulous story for younger children that covers the very grown-up topic of donor-conceived birth in a great way...through the eyes of a 10-year-old. Plus, as a great bonus, readers also get another fun mystery in this book with the addition of a dog-napper who is trying to hurt others and make tons of money at the same time.

Ben and Blue is the story of Benjamin Zither and his new dog, a basset hound named Blue. Ben has a great life…a wonderful mom and grandparents, a great best friend named Cooper, and now a wonderful new dog who they saved from the shelter. This seems like it should be perfect, right? It is until his teacher gives the class a new assignment. The project is called “My Family,” and everyone in the class is expected to do a report on all members of their family and how they are special. Unfortunately for Ben, this is a project that he really wants no part of because, unlike his classmates, Ben has no dad. To Ben, that just means that he is different from everyone else, and he is not eager to stand up in front of the class and their families and tell people that. So what does a 10-year-old do in this case...he makes it into a big mystery and decides it is time to find out about his father. As Ben, Cooper, and Blue start investigating, they turn up more than they expected when secrets start to come out. Ben is about to face a lot of very surprising answers to his questions.

In addition, it turns out that Blue is being stalked by someone, and no one knows why. His previous owner, an old woman who had to give him up, starts showing up a lot when Ben is with Blue, and the dog’s reaction is not what Ben really expected to see. Then Blue disappears, and Ben and Cooper find that they have yet another mystery on their hands besides the identity of Ben’s dad. Will Ben find Blue? Will he ever find out who his father is? Will Ben’s mom ever tell him the truth about whatever happened in the past? All of these questions will be answered, but you are going to have to read the book for those answers.

Ben and Blue is a wonderful story that is full of family, secrets, and plenty of surprises along the way. It is wonderfully written and full of mystery and fun. You will laugh out loud at some of the antics these kids and dog get up to as they try to unravel the clues they find. The characters are well-developed and very likable and will seem real to the reader. In addition, the author takes a very private and mature situation and explains it with humor and sensitivity to a young audience, which makes this book a real treat. It is so true...families today are sometimes very different, but that does not make any of them wrong.

Quill says: Ben and Blue: Searching for Lucky #3002 is a wonderful and creative way of presenting information to a child on a topic which is one they would not normally understand. Combining the very adult topic of donor-conceived birth with a fun mystery for youngsters (actually two of them) and a great character like Blue was a stroke of genius on the part of this author.

For more information on Ben and Blue: Searching for Lucky #3002, please visit the author's ellenmelissacohen.com/available-books.

 #Bookreview of The Bronze Door

By: Karin Ciholas

Publisher: Atmosphere Press

Publication Date: August 6, 2024

ISBN: 979-8891323391

Reviewed by: Kathy Stickles

Review Date: September 30, 2024

About two years ago I reviewed The Lighthouse, which was book one in The Cyrenian Trilogy, and it was one of the most riveting, well-written novels that I have had the privilege to read. Since then, I have been waiting very anxiously for the second book in the series and finally, it is here. I sat down and read the story in one day and I can honestly say that Karin Ciholas has outdone herself with this second book in the series, The Bronze Door. These books are historical fiction at its absolute best and should not be missed by any fan of the genre.

In The Bronze Door, all of our favorite characters are back. Simon is, as always, fighting for the Jews against the Roman Empire but with a new twist as his wife, Aurelia, and his children begin to drift toward Christianity. This new religion is just beginning and so many are fascinated by it, although Simon sees it as a danger to his family. Caligula, the new Emperor of Rome, is still trying to get revenge on Simon and his family for defying him in the previous book and decides to make Aurelia’s brother Valerius the governor of Syria. After he appoints him, Caligula sends Valerius and his troops to Jerusalem where he wants a statue of himself put into the temple as he feels he should be the God that everyone worships. If Valerius does as he is being ordered to do the result would be the death of thousands of Jewish people who refuse to follow Caligula and do not want their temple destroyed by his image. If Valerius refuses the emperor’s order then it will mean the death of him and his entire family. While not a member of the Jewish faith and therefore not a person who can really understand it, Valerius does know that following Caligula’s orders will bring about huge devastation and death, which is what he wants to avoid at all costs in order to save the lives of thousands, as well as those that he loves the most.

The Bronze Door is a story of faith and bravery and, above all else, love, which is set in a time period in history that was full of many cruel people and horrifying beliefs. Every character in this story, whether a fictional or a real one, is written with such depth and every one of them is someone you believe in and really care about. The characters are each struggling with so many different things at one time, such as their personal religious beliefs and a wicked and insane leader, and their choices really do come down to what matters the most: the life of one or the lives of many.

Karin Ciholas is a fabulous writer. This series is so well-researched and the time period and locations just leap out from the pages of the novel. There is so much history included in the story and it is explained flawlessly and in an interesting and attention-grabbing manner that will keep you on the edge of your seat as you read. While you could certainly read The Bronze Door on its own, I think you would be doing yourself and the author a large injustice to not read the stories in order. To follow the story from the beginning just makes it even better, if that is even possible.

I really do not have the words to do justice to The Bronze Door or to Karin Ciholas’ extraordinary writing. I highly recommend this book and this series to any historical fiction fan out there. To say I am excited about the next book in the series would be a huge understatement. This is a definitely a must-read. Do not miss it!

Quill says: Historical fiction can be a genre that is often over-the-top in terms of the fiction aspect as well as the combination of the history and fiction. With The Bronze Door, Karin Ciholas has proved that she is a master of the genre, combining the facts with the fiction in a seamless and mesmerizing way that will thrill any reader.

For more information on The Bronze Door, please visit the author's website at: thecyreniantrilogy.com

  #Bookreview of Gathering Mist

By: Margaret Mizushima

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Publication Date: October 8, 2024

ISBN: 978-1639108947

Reviewed by: Lily Andrews

Review Date: September 30, 2024

Margaret Mizushima delivers another stunning page-turner in Gathering Mist, the eagerly awaited ninth installment of her A Timber Creek K-9 mystery series. Set in the dense, verdant forests of the Pacific Northwest, the book delves into a search and rescue operation that conceals intricate mysteries and intricate puzzles that may go unnoticed by the untrained eye.

On a quest to find a missing nine-year-old child, Deputy Mattie Wray and her partner Robo—a German shepherd who weighs almost a hundred pounds—are dispatched to Washington. According to her department's head, Sheriff McCoy, it would be beneficial for the department to help in another jurisdiction, and the two may even get praise for their outstanding teamwork there. Because she feels it is her responsibility to intervene when a child's life is in danger, Mattie decides to go without first consulting with Cole, her fiancé, whom she is expecting to marry in a week. If Cole does not understand her decision, she feels like their relationship might not be meant to be.

Mattie discovers that the missing child has a history of venturing into the woods, a place rife with dangerous terrain and wild animals. In the same location, two more children have been reported missing. As she joins search teams whose efforts have produced no results, battling the heavy rains in the woods is a crucial concern. However, it does not take long for Robo to find an M&M wrapper, raising the prospect of a lure and kidnapping situation. Nevertheless, considering that the mother of the missing child is a well-known celebrity and has previously received death threats for playing a character who tortured and killed her husband and child in a film, it is uncertain if she may be the target of an aggressor.

This gripping mystery preys on the reader's deepest fears as indications and signs of a terrible conspiracy are revealed. Here, strange findings made throughout the operation—like the discovery of tombs holding decaying corpses—confound both the search crew and the protagonists. Things change, however, when the matter becomes a criminal investigation, enhancing the prospect that the two protagonists will be sent home.

Creating compelling, intricate storylines that she always skillfully weaves together at the end is one of Margaret Mizushima's strengths. Gathering Mist is no exception. She sets the tone for the narrative admirably by introducing readers to the heroes' brilliance early on. Reading this series' volumes and interacting with her very likable array of characters is always a breeze. She constantly creates a stunning, vividly imagined environment to fascinate a wide spectrum of readers of all ages, even though the series' concept appears more appropriate for younger audiences.

Quill says: As soon as you flip the first page of Gathering Mist, you will fall head over heels for this engrossing, fast-paced, interesting, and action-packed mystery even if you are not a fan of search-and-rescue dog tales. It is a dramatic and passionate narrative that will enthrall you with its heart-pounding buildup.

For more information on Gathering Mist, please visit the author’s website at: www.margaretmizushima.com or the publisher's website at www.crookedlanebooks.com.