Freeze Frame was the winner in the COMING OF AGE category of the 2023 IndieReader Discovery Awards, where undiscovered talent meets people with the power to make a difference.
Following find an interview with authors Tyler Beauchamp.
What is the name of the book and when was it published?
Freeze Frame, published September 2022
What’s the book’s first line?
“Is this real?”
What’s the book about? Give us the “pitch”.
A troubled boy with a fractured reality, trying everything to escape his past.
Will Horner leaves his former high school behind for a fresh start. Soon, he will find the past repeats itself. Will begins his junior year at Pinehurst Academy, a neighboring Arts School. As an introverted, avid filmmaker, it seems like the perfect fit. However, Will hasn’t made any films since the incident. Instead, he’s been living them. His world is not always what others see. When his emotions take over, Will’s reality runs in danger of suddenly shifting into a real-life film. His father forced Will to stop filming altogether, believing it to only bring on the episodes. When a new group of friends recruits Will for a major movie project to win national attention, Will must decide if the film is worth the risk. Together, the group will butt heads against the Content Crew, a group of social influencers who control the school and the competition. With the help of his new friends, Will pushes the boundaries of his reality and journeys through film genres such as Action, Horror, Comedy, Drama, and more. With the help of his new friends, can he move on from the horrors of his past, or will he be forced to relive them?
What inspired you to write the book? A particular person? An event?
When quarantine started, I was living in a room with no windows. I certainly wasn’t in the best headspace, not knowing if it was light or dark, rainy or sunny. The mind can sort of wander in a place like that. I remember having these vivid daydreams after a while, and after one of them, it took me a minute or two to figure out if the daydream had actually happened. That’s when this image appeared of a boy who was constantly jumping in and out of reality. The story was inspired by my work with The Free Mental Health Clinic during my time in medical school, as well as influenced by my own personal struggles with mental health. I really wanted to tell a story about how vulnerable children are these days and highlight the growing presence of youth mental illness paired with rising stressors (social media, peer pressures, anxiety/depression). My hope was that Will’s story could help both children and those older who feel isolated to navigate their trauma. Everyone wears their past differently, and I wanted to encourage readers to lend a hand to those in need and consider everyone’s unique past.
What’s the most distinctive thing about the main character? Who-real or fictional-would you say the character reminds you of?
The most distinctive thing about Will would probably be how he responds to his fractured reality. It certainly drives a large portion of the story. But what’s more interesting is how his opinion about his condition continually develops from denial, bargaining, and ultimately to acceptance. I would say he reminds me of a bit of Charlie from Perks of Being a Wallflower but less introverted.
What’s the main reason someone should really read this book?
I think if you’re a kid or young adult, reading this will not only be an exciting and fun read, but you may find a unique aspect of your life thrust into the spotlight. If you’re an adult, you may gain a new appreciation for what kids go through today and how they respond to the issues they face.
If they made your book into a movie, who would you like to see play the main character(s)?
I don’t want to jinx it but Freeze Frame: The Series is currently undergoing adaptation as a television series! The series will follow Will on his journey with grief and friendships, but now with the cinematic, surreal imagery that I always imagined while writing. As far as casting, we have all unanimously pictured Walker Scobell of The Adam Project to play the lead of Will. I have been beyond blessed to work with incredible writers and producers on this development, and all of us are crossing our fingers on having a final landing place for distribution soon! Hopefully, the series will help spread this story to the hearts of even more.
When did you first decide to become an author?
I’ve always wanted to be an author since I was very little. I’ve been writing on and off since childhood, but it’s always been very private and personal. It wasn’t until Freeze Frame that I felt I had something worth really putting out there to the public. The best advice I could give, though, would be to embrace rejection. As with any art, some people will love what you do, and some will hate it. But what I’ve always said is I would much rather have someone tell me why they didn’t like something I’ve written rather than be indifferent. You want to make people feel, good or bad. Just take criticisms in stride and learn how to get better, and remember to always write what makes you happy.
Is this the first book you’ve written?
Yes, this is my first book! Next novel to come soon though, stay tuned.
What do you do for work when you’re not writing?
I’m currently finishing up Medical School this year, soon to apply into Pediatrics. Don’t worry, I fully intend to continue writing alongside my medical career as a Children’s and Young Adult author!
How much time do you generally spend on your writing?
Typically, I spend about 1-2 dedicated evenings a week right now writing, as school takes up a large amount of my time. That being said, I’m always jotting down notes/ideas wherever I am as thoughts come to me. Then, when I get to dedicated time I set aside for writing, I already know what I’d like to work on.
What’s the best and the hardest part of being an indie?
The best part about being an indie is having total ownership and creative freedom over everything. You can write what you want, when you want, and at the end of the story everything you create belongs to you. At the same time though, the hardest part is that you are on your own. The life or death of your story falls on you and your ability to get your story out there.
Would you go traditional if a publisher came calling? If so, why?
Without hesitation I would. I’ve loved the independent process. It’s allowed me to learn so much about the various cogs of the writing industry. However, I know as my medical career begins, time is going to be an even more crucial factor. In order to keep writing going, I’m going to need the help of a traditional publisher to take over some of those cogs for me. I will never stop writing, but I know I won’t have the time to run the “business” of writing in the same manner I have been. A traditional publisher would without a doubt help me keep my writing alive and deliver my stories to the right readers. The next books are on the way, so I’m praying some help comes along soon.
Is there something in particular that motivates you (fame? fortune?)
Honestly, just making people feel something. That’s what I’ve always loved about stories. A good story wraps you into a new world and captivates you in ways you never expect. At the end, you feel relieved, sad, angry, or jubilated. But you feel. It’s been a blessing of a lifetime being able to write something that has made kids and adults feel and think differently. It’s certainly what energizes me to keep writing.
Which writer, living or dead, do you most admire?
Christopher Paolini. He has been a long-time inspiration for me. He started writing at such a young age and just independently pushed his writing out there. We actually used to write back and worth when I was very little, maybe eight or nine? Paolini taught me you didn’t need to wait to write. If you had a story in your heart no matter how young you were, all you needed to do was start with the first page. The worlds he created inspired me to begin world-building myself, and I’d be honored to have even an ounce of the impact he has made on young readers.
Which book do you wish you could have written?
In the same vein as the previous question, I would love loved to have written Eragon. I’ve always been unhealthily obsessed to fantasy, and Eragon was one of those stories I never felt like I was reading growing up but rather living. It took me on journeys I’ll always hold dear to my heart, and it inspired the story of a future series I have coming down the line.