The Year the Music Changed.(Brief Article)(Book Review)

The Year the Music Changed DIANE COULTER THOMAS. Toby, $22.95 (246p) ISBN 1-59264-122-9

Fictional letters between the up-and-coming Elvis Presley and Achsa J. McEachern, a precocious 14-year-old fan, make up Thomas's fanciful debut novel. Born with a disfiguring cleft palate, only child Achsa is a devoted listener to late-night WDDO, Daddy-O Radio 1360 in Atlanta. On Feb. 2, 1955, she writes her first fan letter to Presley, who at first mistakes her for a man. Presley, at 20, is just emerging on the radio circuit, soon to sign with Sun Records and take a screen test in Hollywood. For over a year, the pen pals (she calls him "Dearest Elvis"; he calls her "Baby Girl") …