In the House of Rising Sounds

“If you love music, or the sound of rain on a tin roof, or the crash of a waterfall, or the sweet and innocent laughter of a child, this book is for you. Stephen Copeland has/is a gift that invites the heart to listen and see, to be astonished while the mind plays catch-up. Read the book and be surprised!”


—Paul Young, author of The Shack





“Aristotle once wrote that the ultimate purpose of humanity was not to be found in work—which links us with all other animals—but rather in contemplation. With In the House of Rising Sounds, Stephen Copeland invites the reader into that place of creative non-action. That place where we might be stirred by the sound of something otherwise than being. By expertly weaving together his own personal story with the timeless insights of the mystical tradition, Copeland helps orient us to the hum of that which resists any name.”


—Peter Rollins, author of How (Not) to Speak of God





“The fascinating journey of a disheveled writer with a broken faith who finds inspiration in the blues/funk/soul/R&B sounds of the Monday Night Allstars and other legendary characters of the Double Door Inn, Stephen Copeland’s moving work soars with the nightly jams and wrestles with life after last call.”


—Gary Schwab, former senior editor, The Charlotte Observer





“Full of stories of interesting people, this young man’s memoir is written with vivid imagination, supported by depth of thought and insight about life on a deeper level.”


—Paul Quenon, OCSO, author of In Praise of the Useless Life





“At once personal, universal, creative, engaging, and inspiring, Stephen Copeland’s In the House of Rising Sounds invites readers into a space of introspection and spiritual discernment. Copeland is a gifted writer who brings stories of faith, creativity, and connection to life by interweaving spiritual classics with contemporary experience.”


—Daniel P. Horan, OFM, professor of philosophy, religious studies, and theology, Saint Mary’s College