Freeman to sign copies of ‘Lights Out,’ the real story behind ’23 Blast,’ this Friday

Travis Freeman will be signing copies of his autobiography "Lights Out: Living in a Sightless World" at Froyoz in Corbin this Friday. His life story is the inspiration behind the upcoming theatrical film "23 Blast."

The upcoming movie “23 Blast” is a stylized retelling of Travis Freeman’s battle to overcome the loss of his eyesight while in middle school, but now he wants you to know the real story.

Freeman will be signing copies of his recently released autobiography “Lights Out: Living in a Sightless World” Friday at Froyoz in the Trademart Shopping Center in Corbin from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. — the first of three book-signing appearances.

“It goes into a lot of detail the movie couldn’t’ go into. The proper time frame of events … things like that,” said Freeman, who is now an ordained minister and an adjunct professor of religion at the University of the Cumberlands.

“I really want to use this as a means to just continue to get my story out there and to encourage people to overcome the obstacles and disadvantages that they face in their lives.”

At the age of 12, Freeman was diagnosed with Cavernous Sinus Thrombosis (CST), which left him completely blind after an emergency surgery to remove the infection. Through the support and prayers of his community, Freeman pulled through and fulfilled his dream of playing football at Corbin High School.

Travis’s story caught the attention of the national media, spawning interviews with Dateline and The TODAY Show. He went on to serve as the equipment manager for the University of Kentucky football team and earned his doctorate from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Freeman co-authored “Lights Out” with Rebeca Seitz. A first draft was done in just seven “gut wrenching days.” Editing and re-writing took another few weeks, he said.

“I cried through the first three chapters. It was a pretty emotional project for me,” Freeman said. “It was kind of like I was reliving everything. I was just an intense experience remembering what my life was like when all of that happened. I think the book captures the spirit of my story well.”

“23 Blast,” which will be released on 600 screens nationwide Oct. 24, takes liberty with the timing of Freeman’s sudden blindness and significantly alters the role of some of the people in Freeman’s life at the time.

Freeman, who is a big fan of the movie, said while the Hollywood treatment of his life is good, the real story is just as interesting and he hopes it serves as motivation for others in similar situations to find ways to compensate and overcome.

“I want to encourage people who are dealing with a disability to be independent and to figure out ways to overcomes those odds and obstacles they face,” Freeman said. “I hope this book accomplishes that.”

In May, Freeman began The Freeman Foundation with the purpose of empowering those with disabilities and equipping the sighted world to engage with the blind.

Book signing events for “Lights Out” will also be held Oct. 24, from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Regency Cinema in London and Oct. 25 from 8:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Tri-County Cineplex in Corbin.

Copies of “Lights Out” can be purchased at the book signing events or online at www.travisfreeman.org.