Shapeshifting in Key West

An Audacious Memoir

By: Annabel Jones Brooks

Narrated by: Annabel Jones Brooks

Have you ever longed to leave everything behind and escape to a place that speaks to your soul? Shapeshifting in Key West: An Audacious Memoir takes listeners on a journey through the life of Fannie Bessie, who zigzagged through life with grace and ferocity as a mother, socialite, author, restaurateur, and columnist in Key West.

Told through her daughter Annabel’s loving yet candid eyes, this memoir paints an unforgettable portrait of a woman who lived unapologetically. Her daughter reflects on a more-than colorful childhood, where rebellious adventures and encounters with larger-than-life personalities shaped her worldview. Both mother and daughter were “parrot heads,” sharing a love of Jimmy Buffett, who lived next door. The wild spirit of Key West comes alive with Fannie Bessie’s wit and wisdom: as legendary as her newspaper columns, dazzling readers with enchanting stories and insightful observations about life.

Shapeshifting in Key West is more than just a memoir; it’s a celebration of a woman who lived daringly, leaving a lasting impression on everyone who crossed her path. Bursting with humor, heart, and a touch of mischief, this memoir invites readers to embrace their inner shapeshifter, defy convention, and live with the kind of audacious spirit that Fannie Bessie embodied every day.

The endearing proclivities of the parade of characters, both mythical and earthly, divulge a distinctive metaphysical wisdom. Shapeshifting in Key West isn’t for the faint of heart, summoning remnants of the Greek god Proteus, invoking the mythic and magical aptitude of modern day shapeshifting.

©2025 Annabel Jones Brooks (P)2025 Annabel Jones Brooks