Carolynn Kingyens was born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia, where her red brick row house was prone to chronic leaks. She is the author of the poetry collections, Before the Big Bang Makes a Sound (2020) and Coupling (2021), both published by Kelsay Books.
Ed Meek, poet, writer, and book reviewer for The Arts Fuse, writes: Kingyens is particularly good at dramatizing paradoxes we cling to in everyday life. She suggests we live lives filled with tragicomedy.
And Barnes & Noble writes on Instagram: Contemporary, urban, and impassioned, Carolynn Kingyens’ poetry resonates with a darkening echo still felt long after the first read.
In addition to poetry, Kingyens writes essays, reviews, and short fiction. Two stories were selected for Best of Fiction, 2021 and 2023 by Across the Margin, a Brooklyn arts & culture webzine. Her short story, “The Invitation,” is available at ATM Storytellers, a podcast found on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Simplecast.
Today, Carolynn lives with her family, including four pets, in Canada.
Paperback: 70 pages
Publisher: Kelsay Books (April 3, 2026)