Changes

For those who enjoy fantasy, historical novels, the short story form, and a variety of literary styles, Changes by J.M. Colhoun is a one-stop shop. The title of this book reflects changes in form (shape-shifting), time (periods of history through four centuries), mood (stories are chilling, humorous, bitter-sweet, mysterious and shocking), venue (set in Britain and the USA) and even authorial style (for example, in the style of Jane Austen or Raymond Chandler, depending upon the era in which the story is set). From the outset, the world of The Gifted (those who can shape-shift between human and feline form) is manifested. The Gift is passed from cat/mother to daughter at the beginning of the book. There follows a series of stories in which the heroine, Kit, secretly effects changes in the lives of humans with whom she comes into contact. These take place over the ensuing three centuries of Kit's life. In the italicised wrap-around story, the world of The Gifted unfolds via an insight into the relationship between the mother and daughter. A cast of memorable characters populates the tales, and the storylines are imaginative and compelling. The various eras are evoked by a wealth of period detail, and contemporary speech patterns, while the inner life of the heroine is as important to the stories as the inventive ways in which she transforms the lives of the humans she serves. This beautifully written, captivating and original book, with its poetic prose and satisfying arc, delivers many a surprise for the reader - and for Kit.

J.M. Colhoun was born and educated in Liverpool. After being awarded two music studentships in Singing and Pianoforte, she spent four years at the Royal Manchester College of Music, then completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, and a Diploma in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. After a period in education (teaching and lecturing in Music, Drama and Modern Languages), she became freelance, performing solo broadcasts for BBC radio, and acting as a vocal and dialect coach for stars of stage, screen and radio. She has written in various genres and now divides her time between writing, performing and composing.