Meet Cindy Burnett | Book Columnist and Podcaster

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cindy Burnett and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cindy, how does your business help the community?
I love to read and to share my passion for reading with others. Reading teaches empathy, kindness, understanding, and just generally provides a glimpse into the lives of other people and what it is like to reside in other places. So many books are being published, and I enjoy sharing and highlighting those that have stood out to me and are great reads. I also like promoting new authors and authors whose books I always read.Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I love to read and have become progressively more involved in the book world over the past 5 years. I started a bookstagram account (book account on Instagram) about four years ago called Thoughts from a Page. I work part time at an independent book store here in Houston, Murder by the Book, and I write two book columns (one online and one print) for a large Houston magazine called The Buzz Magazines. I also write round ups for SheReads.com and review a book or two a month for Bookreporter.com. I enjoy speaking to groups about books and book recommendations. Two years ago, my friend Krista Hensel and I formed a literary salon called Conversations from a Page where we invite authors to Houston and host events for them. We pair two authors together, generally with books of different genres. At these salons, we bring authors and readers together in a casual setting and have had great success with the events. Once the pandemic hit, we moved online to Zoom and continue to host our literary salon and have also added an online book club called As the Page Turns. At these salons, I interview the authors, and over time people kept suggesting that I expand that to a podcast, especially once everything moved online in March. I never had the time to focus on that idea, but with the pandemic opening up my schedule some, I decided I might as well try. I talk books on social media – Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest – as @thoughtsfromapage so I used the name people already knew and expanded it to the podcast. My podcast is entitled Thoughts from a Page Podcast. I use an interview format, similar to what I do for the literary salon, and I ask 8-15 questions per interview. I always end by asking the author for their book recommendations which has worked very well; people frequently tell me that they love hearing what authors are reading, and I have learned about new books (and authors to interview for the podcast) that way myself. I focus on traditionally-published authors and only interview authors whose books appeal to me personally. While it took me a while to come around to this idea and I continue to be astounded at how much time it takes, I absolutely love interviewing all of these authors and have met so many people that I would not have had the chance to encounter if it were not for the podcast. I have also read books that I might not have picked up were it not for the podcast. With each new addition to my bookish activities, I find that I learn so much more and reach a new group of readers and lovers of literature. I look forward to seeing what awaits me next!If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
With the pandemic, this question is pretty tricky because so much is closed. I love the newly remodeled Memorial Park and enjoy taking walks with friends there.Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The Buzz Magazines for hiring me to write book columns!

Website: https://www.podpage.com/thoughts-from-a-page-podcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtsfromapage/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-hill-burnett-9497531a8/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/burn555555

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thoughtsfrompage

Other: Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thoughtsfromapage/_created/