What is singer-songwriter Marshall Chapman doing now?
— John S., California
She has traded in her guitar for a word processor, at least termporarily. Chapman, who has recorded eight albums and written songs for artists such as Emmylou Harris, Joe Cocker and Wynonna Judd, has written her first book, Goodbye, Little Rock and Roller. Instead of an autobiography, the book is more of a roadmap of her musical adventures, which have included touring with Jimmy Buffett and Jerry Lee Lewis. "I started writing out of the blue," Chapman says. "After 30 pages, I knew I had written something and it wasn't a song. I've always had this idea to write a book where each chapter was a song title and answer that question that people always ask, 'Why did you write that song?' I try to answer that question in each chapter." The Spartanburg, S.C., native will spend her fall promoting the book, which includes a companion CD, and participating in Good Ol' Girls, a literary musical she co-wrote with songwriter Matraca Berg and novelists Lee Smith and Jill McCorkle. Chapman, who lives in Nashville, Tenn., enjoys yoga, walking and cooking in her spare time.
