ST. CROIX — Acclaimed actor, award-winning choreographer and author Darrin Henson held a book signing at Undercover Books & Gifts Tuesday in Gallows Bay during his first trip to St. Croix as he promoted his two self-help books and book of poetry.
The New York native who stars in the BET+ original series “The Family Business” made the trip to The Big Island from his home in Georgia with his wife, Taurey, who celebrated her birthday today.
“We are having a great time in St. Croix,” he said Tuesday. “We’ve had a beautiful time here in the bookstore today, and we hope to meet and greet the people again very soon.”
One of the fans Henson met was Anniesha Barnes, executive secretary at the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority. She said she has seen Henson in movies but noted her favorite character he portrays is Orlando Duncan on “The Family Business.” She said she attended the book signing to purchase one of his books and get her picture taken with him. She said she was excited to meet him.
“I can’t stop smiling,” Barnes said.
Kobie Nichols, Undercover Books & Gifts owner, said she is always open to supporting authors after discussing how Henson contacted her about hosting his book signing. She said she was glad people were able to meet someone they idolize and watch on TV.
“You never know who’s going to walk through your door,” she said.
In addition to his role in “The Family Business” and producing and starring in a TV series on STARZ called “Double Cross,” Henson said he is developing a new series with R&B legend Keith Sweat.
“I can’t say the name right now because we’re in the middle of negotiations,” he said.
Before landing roles on TV shows like Showtime’s “Soul Food” and ABC Family’s “Lincoln Heights,” and in movies like “Stomp the Yard” and “Tekken,” Henson worked as a choreographer with some of the music industry’s biggest pop stars.
“I started out as a dancer; turned into one of the world’s most famous choreographers, and that’s by happenstance,” he said after signing copies of his books for fans. “I was at the right place, at the right time, with the right artists, with the right music.”
Henson said his desire was to work with Michael Jackson, which he got to do in 1995. The following year he worked with Prince. He has also worked with Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, New Kids on the Block, Backstreet Boys, 98 Degrees, Vanessa Williams, and C+C Music Factory. He won the 2000 MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography for NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye.” He said he initially turned down the opportunity to work with NSYNC on “Bye Bye Bye” after previously doing choreography for the band because he was acting on “Soul Food” at the time, but that their manager convinced him to do it.
“So, one thing led to another, which is why I say don’t chase your dreams,” Henson said. “If you’re chasing something, it means it’s trying to get away from you. Follow your dreams.”
After following his dreams to become a choreographer and actor, Henson gives fans a glimpse into his life through his books.
His book of poetry, “Intimate Thoughts and the Spirit of Change,” is described on Amazon as “a literary journey for the poetically fit.” It was nominated for the NAACP Image Awards.
“There’s a lot that I wrote in that particular book, because I had a lot to say at that time, and they were really personal thoughts, which is why it’s called ‘Intimate Thoughts and the Spirit of Change,’” he said. “One of the things that we realize in life is that the change is the constant in the universe. Nothing stays the same and so, what I did was, I penned through my growing pains, penned a lot of what I was going through.”
Henson said he wrote a lot about his life in his poetry book because his fans would ask him questions that he did not have enough time to answer during book signings.
“What I thought was that it would be efficacious for me to put it in a book where they could read on their own personal time when they wanted to know a lot more about me, things that I think, or things that I went through, or what it takes to become an actor or a choreographer,” he said.
Henson said his fans wanted to know about his choreography, noting that part of his life is different from acting on “The Family Business.”
“Now, they’re the same Darrin, but I’m a different person because it’s different aspects of my life,” he said. “So, I’m able to explain that in the book.”
Henson also inspires his readers through his self-help books, “Life’s Teachable Moments,” and “Ain’t That the Truth: Acknowledging, Admitting, & Inviting Truth Into Your Life.”
“I do have a lot to say, and there are times where I’m very quiet, but when it’s time to provide information for people, I look at it from a perspective of each one, teach one, we can reach one.”
Henson said it was important for him to assist people through his self-help books.
“I believe people have to help themselves, but you can assist them and so, that’s what these books are about,” he said. “There are many stories and information. There’s also pictures in here and poems that people enjoy.”
Henson’s books are available to purchase from Undercover Books & Gifts.
