My guest today is Karyn Parsons - author, film producer, and the founder of Sweet Blackberry, an award-winning series of children’s animated films and books sharing stories of unsung black heroes in history.  However, you might know her better as the one and only Hilary Banks, the character she played on “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” Karyn's leap from the world of acting to becoming an author and the brains behind Sweet Blackberry wasn't something she'd always planned. And that's exactly what we dove into  in our conversation – the beauty and chaos of finding yourself on a path you never expected but realizing it's where you were meant to be all along. I sit down with Karyn to talk about her journey - a testament to the unexpected paths that open up when we embrace opportunities with an open heart. What struck me the most was how Karyn didn't even consider herself an author until much later in life. It's a powerful reminder that we're not bound by the labels we start with; we can redefine ourselves at any moment.  In this episode we discuss the grieving period Karyn went through after something as big as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air came to an end; how a friend urged her to sign up for writing classes - something which would eventually change her life; the importance of staying curious and exploring, and how we should all embrace our creativity and not be concerned about what other people think about what we create.  About Karyn Parsons: Karyn Parsons is best known as the character “Hilary Banks” on the long-running television show “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” Today, she is the founder of Sweet Blackberry, an award-winning series of children’s animated films and books sharing stories of unsung black heroes in history. The films feature narration from such notable talents as Alfre Woodard, Queen Latifah, Chris Rock, and Laurence Fishburne. They have been screened on HBO and Netflix and are enjoyed by schools and libraries across the country. Karyn has also authored the Sweet Blackberry picture books Flying Free: How Bessie Coleman’s Dreams Took Flight and Saving The Day, which tells the story of how Garrett Morgan invented the traffic signal. Karyn’s debut novel, How High The Moon, was released in March 2019, her latest novel, Clouds Over California, hit bookshelves in July 2023, and Little, Brown recently acquired Parsons’ new novel, Blue Beach – her YA debut - and is scheduled for a summer 2025 release. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit maricellaherrera.substack.com