Carolyn began writing astronomy- and space-related books in the 1990s. Her popular book ASTRONOMY 101 is in its second edition, published by Adams Media, an imprint of Simon & Schuster. For Amberley Publishing, she wrote The Discovery of the Universe in 2019, and Space Exploration: Past, Present, Future in 2017.

In 1992 and 2002, Carolyn and co-author Jack Brandt published Hubble Vision and Visions of the Cosmos respectively, through Cambridge University Press in England. She also served as co-editor on The New Solar System, published jointly by Sky Publishing Corporation and Cambridge University Press. Her first kids' book in science, Jupiter, created with artist Don Davis, was published in 1989.

Carolyn also publishes her work on her blog, The Spacewriter's Ramblings She is a regular contributor to Universe Today.