Time was finally right for Steve Curtis Chapman to write a book instead of songs
Steven Curtis Chapman can’t pinpoint the exact moment he decided he was ready to write a memoir.
The idea wasn’t unfamiliar, after years of turning down book offers, and hearing how positively his wife, Mary Beth’s book, “Choosing to SEE: A Journey of Struggle and Hope,” had affected fans kept the idea in the back of his mind.
When the acclaimed Christian singer was asked three years ago by a publisher, who told him people would want to hear his story, the timing just felt right.
“I wanted to, and have done that with my music for many years, try to be as honest as I can about my faith journey, my life journey as a friend, dad, husband,” he said. “Hearing those kinds of comments and feeling like I’m at the right place now where I have enough perspective to be able to write this story in a way that I couldn’t have done five years ago or 10 years ago.”
After an, at times, trying “remembering process,” Chapman’s memoir, “Between Heaven and the Real World: My Story,” was released earlier this month.
“I’m really glad I did it,” he said. “It was a lot of work but really very rewarding as well.”
The book details Chapman’s journey from an aspiring musician growing up in Kentucky to one of Christian music’s biggest names, including the good, the bad and the tragic in between.
“There were some amazing, beautiful moments of remembering but then some really very painful moments,” he said. “I share in real honest detail of the journey of losing our youngest daughter, Maria, almost nine years ago now in a tragedy at our home and what that grief journey has been like and is still like.”
The release of “Between Heaven and the Real World” and his headlining spot on the Rock and Worship Roadshow, which comes to the Spokane Arena on Sunday, mark 30 years since the release of Chapman’s first album. In honor of this anniversary, Chapman is pulling songs from throughout his discography, 1987’s “First Hand” through last year’s “Worship and Believe,” for his set.
After 30 years in the business, and 20 albums and countless awards to his name, Chapman has earned the right to slow down, but he’s not ready for that just yet.
Just don’t expect another book’s worth of work.
“I’d have to live to 108 to have another book quite like this or have a career that would take me well into my 80s, so it’s possible… but it’s hard to imagine right now,” he said. “This one probably will stand at least for awhile. Maybe I’ll just do the updated edition.”
Here’s a look at the artists joining Chapman on the Rock and Worship Roadshow:
Derek Minor, playing the pre-show party, is a true triple threat, MC-ing, producing and running his own label, Reflection Music Group. Minor’s latest album, “Reflection,” was released in October.
Urban Rescue, also playing the pre-show party, incorporates electronic elements into its worship music. The Los Angeles-based band released “Wild Heart” last year.
Rend Collective is a folk-rock five-piece hailing from Northern Ireland. The band’s latest release, a live album called “Campfire II: Simplicity,” came out last year.
Atlanta-based trio Passion uses its music, including its latest album, “Worthy of Your Name,” a live album that was released in February, to connect with students.
Francesca Battistelli infuses a bit of soul into her pop music. Battistelli won her first Grammy, for Best Contemporary Music Performance/Song for the song “Holy Spirit,” last year.
Atlanta quintet Family Force 5 is truly a mixed bag, fusing everything from punk-rock and dance to rap and electronica. The band’s latest, a remix album called “Time Still Stands,” was released in 2015.
Jordin Feliz’s musical career began with a rock band called A Current Affair, but the singer really found his niche in Christian music, winning the Gospel Music Association Dove Award for New Artist of the Year in 2016.