Welcome to another edition of Open Book Blog Hop. This week’s question is: “Can you speak in an accent that isn’t your own? Can any of your characters do this? How do you indicate that in your stories?”
In The Red Dress, my main character, Eve, who lives in Colorado, visits her former college roommate in California. Her roommate’s husband Jon, who grew up in Wyoming, breaks into a southern accent one morning while fixing breakfast.
***
Jon turned from the stove. With a broad smile and a Southern drawl, he said, “How about some fresh–squoze orange juice? I done squoze it myself.”
Eve laughed and said, “I didn’t know you were from the South.”
“I’m actually from Wyoming,” he said, reaching for a pitcher on a nearby counter. “I got bitten by the film bug and ended up here.”
“And he’s tired of just doing sound effects for movies,” said Brenda. “He wants to get cast in a new production of Gone with the Wind.”
“Now, you hush up, girl,” said Jon, again in his Southern accent.
***
Who’s Brenda? You’ll have to read the book and find out.
So, can you speak in an accent that isn’t your own? If you write fiction, can any of your characters do this? You can click here to participate in this week’s hop and read other bloggers’ responses.
And now,
I’m pleased to announce that from now until March 12th, Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me, The Red Dress, and My Ideal Partner are absolutely free from Smashwords as part of its Read an eBook Week sale. You can visit my Smashwords author page to download these books. Happy reading!
New! Why Grandma Doesn’t Know Me
Copyright 2021 by Abbie Johnson Taylor.
Independently published with the help of DLD Books.
Sixteen-year-old Natalie’s grandmother, suffering from dementia and confined to a wheelchair, lives in a nursing home and rarely recognizes Natalie. But one Halloween night, she tells her a shocking secret that only she and Natalie’s mother know. Natalie is the product of a one-night stand between her mother, who is a college English teacher, and another professor.
After some research, Natalie learns that people with dementia often have vivid memories of past events. Still not wanting to believe what her grandmother has told her, she finds her biological father online. The resemblance between them is undeniable. Not knowing what else to do, she shows his photo and website to her parents.
Natalie realizes she has some growing up to do. Scared and confused, she reaches out to her biological father, and they start corresponding.
Her younger sister, Sarah, senses their parents’ marital difficulties. At Thanksgiving, when she has an opportunity to see Santa Claus, she asks him to bring them together again. Can the jolly old elf grant her request?
***
My Corner 
I like the Southern accent, but can’t understand it, lol.
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Well, I feel the same way about some UK accents. Some dialects are hard for some people to understand.
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And that’s why I prefer to write in standard English…
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I love the way dropping a misspelt word changes the atmosphere of the scene.
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Well, that just go to show that not everybody has to use correct English all the time.
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