The Author Who Inspired Me Most

Wordslinger Podcast, Episode 268Discover more at WordslingerPodcast.com

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In this heartfelt and personal episode, Kevin Tumlinson shares his journey as a writer and reflects on achieving a lifelong dream: speaking with his literary hero, Orson Scott Card. From the pivotal moment of discovering Ender's Game in ninth grade to the unique influence Card's writing had on his own voice, Kevin offers an honest look at how our heroes can shape our paths. He recounts how this long-awaited interview finally happened (thanks to co-host JD Barker and the Writers, Ink podcast), why he avoided meeting Card for years, and what it felt like to truly connect with a major influence in his life. Tune in for a story about inspiration, creative legacy, and what it means to pass that torch to the next generation of storytellers.

Show links:

* HatrackRiver.com – Orson Scott Card’s official website

* Kevin’s Substack – Weekly updates and thoughts from Kevin

* Writers, Ink Podcast – Podcast co-hosted by Kevin, featuring top authors

Watch on YouTube

Key Topics & Timestamps:[00:00:34] – Kevin’s update and recent Texas flooding[00:01:31] – Why the podcast was on hiatus[00:02:59] – The story of discovering Ender’s Game[00:06:29] – Realizing writing could be a career[00:09:01] – Lessons learned from unconventional career detours[00:11:02] – Brush with Dan Brown before his fame[00:12:36] – Why Kevin never tried to interview Orson Scott Card[00:14:41] – How the interview finally came together thanks to JD Barker[00:19:20] – Nerves before meeting a lifelong hero[00:21:09] – Card’s reaction to Kevin’s writing[00:24:05] – How strong mentorship (even from afar) shapes us[00:32:51] – Reflections on role models and creative legacy[00:35:01] – The mission of storytelling and inspiring others[00:36:34] – Final thoughts and thanks

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