Gospel singer, pastor and producer Marvin Sapp will soon be adding “author” to his resume.
Sapp, pastor of Lighthouse Full Life Center Church on Burton Street SE, said he has signed an initial agreement with Destiny Image Publishers that he hopes will bring a book to store shelves before the end of the year.
“It could be fairly quick because the book is finished,” said Sapp of his prospective title “I Win,” also the name of his forthcoming CD.
“It’s not autobiographical, but it’s about how I made it through certain situations in my life and examples of things people can do to be successful in life and relationships and in leaving a legacy,” he said.
Sapp, 45, lost his wife and the mother of their three children, MaLinda Prince Sapp, to cancer in September 2010. His latest music and the book reflect the experience.
Destiny Images is a Pennsylvania-based publisher of faith-based books whose authors include well known Christian pastors and speakers such as T.D. Jakes, of Dallas, Texas, and Dr. Myles Monroe of Nassau, Bahamas.
“I was honestly considering self-publishing until I received a call from Destiny Image that they were interested,” said Sapp, who said a long term, multiple book publishing agreement is now being prepared.
Sapp said he’s been doing “listening parties” and other appearances in connection with his CD, “I Win,” which hits stores April 3. He was speaking from Tampa, Fla. where he was about to leave on a weeklong gospel cruise as a performing artist. Gospel singers Fred Hammond and Kierra Sheared are among the other artists on board.
Sapp’s first single (“My Testimony’) from the album is up to No. 6 on the Billboard gospel song chart – still with “greatest gainer” status.
