In honor of the recent launch of The Outskirts of Hope, we are featuring author Jo Ivester in this week’s edition of Inspired By. Here, Jo shares the five books that have inspired her most as an author.

Forever Autumn unpublished journal by Aura Kern Kruger (with Jo Ivester)

about her whole life story.  

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee  

I identified strongly with Scout and viewed both my parents as Atticus.

Little Women and Little Men by Louisa May Alcott

The character of “Jo” is my namesake.  My mother wanted to be like her, a strong woman, a nurturing mother, and a teacher.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

My first exposure to tales of the downtrodden.  After reading this, I read every book that Steinbeck wrote.

The Once and Future King, by T.H. White

 My first recollection of politics involves my parents speaking adoringly of President Kennedy and the image he had of trying to re-create Camelot, so I loved anything having to do with the Arthurian legends.