Carma Paden

Founder | Publisher | Author

I distinctly remember the first time I read a book and immediately read it all over again. It wasn’t the first time I had reread a fabulous book—heavens, no—but this time I read the final page, closed the cover, sighed happily, and immediately flipped the book open to begin my reread.

For me, saying I love reading is approximately as superfluous as saying I love breathing.

Words themselves have always fascinated me—their history, their precision, and their ability to shape the way we think and learn. I was the worst (best?) kind of language nerd: the one who enjoyed diagramming sentences in high school, the one who took Latin and Advanced English Grammar in college because they would be useful for my vocabulary and writing—and fun.

That fascination became a career. Over the years I’ve worked as a freelance proofreader and copyeditor, a production editor in educational publishing, and a communications director, helping authors and organizations communicate clearly and effectively. I hold degrees in English and Elementary Education, and I spent many years homeschooling my four children, an experience that deepened—if it were possible—my appreciation for books that educate the imagination as much as the intellect.

Today I’m the founder and publisher of Word in Hand Press, an independent publishing house dedicated to creating books worth living with. The press reflects my conviction that the best books—whether picture books, novels, memoirs, or nonfiction—are crafted with care and worthy of returning to again and again.

I write as well, of course. As publisher, I write the essays in the Stacks exploring why story matters and what makes enduring children’s literature. I also write reviews of excellent books and topical essays on writing, editing, reading, and the craft of publishing.

I write nonfiction, mostly for adults but also for children, under my own name, drawing on my experience in education, homeschooling, language, and publishing. I write fiction, mostly for children but also for adults, under the pen name CJ Penland.

When I’m not writing or editing, you’ll probably find me browsing the children’s section of the library, studying the construction of a beautifully written picture book, researching obscure word histories, or planning the next project for Word in Hand Press.

Whether you’ve arrived here as a reader, a fellow writer, an educator, or simply someone who loves well-made books, welcome.

From my shelf to yours,
~ Carma

My kids gave me this nameplate for Christmas when I began working to launch Word in Hand Press!