As a child I always enjoyed building things. At that time assembling model car kits was very popular. I would take all the parts from several different kits and mix them together in a big box and then see what I could build from the various parts inside. The Key on Edge uses a similar example among the Sharefield Gang in The Key on Edge. Creativity can take many forms, and anyone can practice it. All you must do is ask the question, “How could this be different?” in an effort to make it better, and then have the courage to find out.
Much of my life has been spent trying to ask and answer that question. To be quite honest, it can be a little discomforting because it is not the norm. It leads to an endless trail of discovery through failure until something of value emerges. Afterwards, it often appears obvious to others. This is not criticism; it is an acknowledgement that the result is in harmony with expectations and is probably of value.
During my nearly 50-year career in technology I have had the absolute privilege of working with world class teams on new innovations that change the world in some small way. You see every innovation has an impact. I kept notes of some of the methods I developed that helped me increase my probability of success. I always thought that I would write a book after I retired to share such insights. To make the concepts more understandable, I decided to embed them in mystery novels that would teach through example while offering the reader an engaging adventure. This proved to be a challenge. I started with a spreadsheet of concepts I wanted to convey, and then wrote The Key on Edge, checking off each of the ideas as they were explained in the book. Afterwards, I wrote the accompanying Discussion Guide to summarize the main ideas and offer suggestions for further discussion. The concepts are very universal so each person can relate to them in their own individual way based upon their life experiences.
The Key Series of books is an easy read of the Sharefield Gang’s exploits. My goal was to make them fun without excessive conflict or distress. There is already enough of that in the world today. Behind the story are hints of how curiosity and the willingness to engage bring about change.
As a sports analogy, one can sit on the sideline or get into the game risking defeat for the satisfaction of victory. This is not to say one should be irresponsible, the consequences of failure must be weighed in every situation. Creativity can be frivolous and must be tempered with the responsibilities of the day. However, just embarking on a journey to uniquely express oneself to some degree can provide a lot of personal satisfaction. I heard recently that four in ten high school students feel some sense of depression. Growing up is hard but taking steps to express oneself in healthy ways for the common good can make all the difference.
