John Kingston

John Kingston was born in Flint, Michigan. In an October, 2014 Michigan Public Radio interview, he explained how a series of name changes throughout his childhood had left him with a "debilitating identity crisis". He attended Michigan State University where he graduated with a degree in English. While in college, he wrote a series of short stories, which appeared in Blue Heron. A self-taught pianist, he played piano in a lounge while in college.

From 1996-1997, he traveled extensively, visiting and studying independently in Spain, England, Morocco, Thailand, and Singapore, before returning to America. As his college repayment loans became due, he applied to and was accepted into the police academy where he was later elected class president. During a near 20-year career as a police officer and investigator, he became a highly decorated officer, accruing multiple citations for commendation, meritorious service, as well as law enforcement's highest and most prestigious award; valor.

In his dual identity as a writer, his work has been featured in the Sycamore Review. In 2007, he was a finalist for the Nelligan Prize and his work has appeared in the Huffington Post and Thought Catalog. In 2016, he delivered the opening speech at the San Francisco Writers Conference.

He now lives in Seattle.

The Portraits of Gods is his debut novel.