MCC alumna Danette Key discovered that sometimes change opens up access to inner creativity.

Born and raised in Arizona, Key worked in the insurance industry for 26 years. But when she and her husband decided to make a change and move to upstate New York, Key began a whole new career as an author of young adult novels.

“My life changed when we moved,” Key said. “Sometimes change motivates creativity.”

Key’s new young adult book, On the Edge of Wishing, began as the result of letters written back and forth between her and her mother. Key describes the book as a fun, easy read that encourages gratitude with a slight warning to “be careful what you wish for.”

Key said so far the reviews of the book have been positive.

“I find that young people love my book because it is simple and easy to read,” said Key, who raised three children and has several grandchildren. “One of the goals of my book was to have a clean book with a great story line that wasn’t too predictable that you would be proud to give to your teen as a gift.”

Key obtained her associate’s degree from MCC in 2008 and her bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Leadership from Capella University in 2010.

While at MCC, Key appreciated the way instructors nurtured her creative impulses.

“I loved the open atmosphere of being able to discuss things in class at MCC,” Key said. “That’s always helpful to anyone who is creative, to not just have information shoved down their throat.”

She recently moved again, this time to Texas. Could this change inspire yet another novel? Stay tuned…

“On the Edge of Wishing,” may be purchased from iUniverse, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Key’s author page is here: https://danettekey.com And her Twitter feed is available here: https://twitter.com/dk1037

This alumni profile first appeared in the Spring 2014 edition of Alumni & Friends, a publication for the Mesa Community College Alumni Association. http://mesacc.edu/alumni/newsletters/spring-2014/alumna-pursues-passion-novelist