Or…you’re not in Kansas anymore.
My April release, Hot and Bothered, is set in Savannah. I love Savannah. I don’t live there but my daughter goes to school there and we vacationed in the area long before that and I knew some day I wanted set a book among the big moss draped oaks, magnolias the size of dinner plates, azaleas as big as a bus and Paula Deen’s. ‘course that Savannah is the most haunted city in the US made the city even more intriguing.
But there was this one teeny problem, I don’t talk like Scarlett O’Hara. I live in Ohio, the land of flat A’s and folks who say “please” when they mean “excuse me.” I have no idea where that come from but it’s better than “huh?”
I had to do a lot of research to make sure I had Lady and Sons on the right street and to make sure what streets are one-way and which way they go. But you have to do that when you write any book. The big challenge was how to write Southern-eeze?
I do live in Cincinnati and married a guy from Kentucky. He truly does say things like “fine as frog’s hair” and causin’ a ruckus and we do have fried chicken with white gravy once a week. But how do you write real Savannah?
Such things as Miss Emily and Miss Gloria are proper addresses as is asking how someone’s mama and daddy are but what else? I got a lot of flavor from Southern movies. Of course there’s Gone With the Wind, which was a far better book than move but still it helped to hear them talk. And Something to Talk About that was set in Savannah so that helped a ton, and my favorite Southern movie, The Client. This one just happened to be a better movie than a book, in my opinion.
So, I’m here to ask you… What is your favorite book set in the South and do you have any Southern-isms or words of wisdom from the South to pass on?
For you efforts, I have an ARC of Hot and Bothered to give away from the responses. Ya’ll have a nice day now, ya’ hear.
Hugs, Dianne
DianneCastell.com
DianneCastell@hotmail.com
Deborah Smith writes wonderful books set in the south. Sweet Hush has to be my favorite although I like all her books a lot. “Bless her heart” has to be one of my favorite sayings from a southener that I know up here in the north.
I have to agree about Deborah Smith. She is one of my favorites along with Dorothea Benton Frank.
Just a few things to keep in mind about the South:
If you ask for tea, you will get sweet tea (we never call it iced tea!)
Dress in layers-it may be 30 degrees that morning, but by noon it is liable to be 72 and steamy.
Grits are just ground corn. There is nothing foreign or gross about them. They are delicious with butter!
When we say “It’s hotter than the gate hinges of Hell” that means it is REALLY toasty. It may also be hard to get a deep breath. Dress accordingly. And carry water.
Seat belt buckles in cars that sit in the Georgia sun all day will leave a mark on bare skin. Think branding iron.
You can say anything about anybody no matter how awful as long as it is followed by “Bless their heart”
There really are people that are uglier than a mud fence. Dogs, too.
We do not marry our cousins. Or hum the theme music from Deliverance. And most of us have all our own teeth.
joann ross has gret books in the south.
I love JoAnn Ross’ Callahan Brothers trilogy. The clan is from Louisiana and the brothers definitely have that Southern charm.
Precious is one of those terms that’s either good or bad too. “Isn’t she just precious.” Dependes on who’s saying it.
And that things move a little slower. My daughter calls it Slow-vannah. In her appartment when something needed fixing and they say they’ll be right over…right over is anytime in the next week.
And of couse the food it to die for. I love watching Paual Deen cook and hear her talk.
Someone mentioned one of my favorite writers of JoAnn Ross. Sherryl Woods has done some interesting Southern books.
I’m a Northern through and through so I don’t have any Southernisms.
I had to laugh at your “you’re not in Kansas anymore” start to today’s blog. That is a line that dh and I use when we travel around Australia.
I agree about Joann Ross, I really enjoy her stories about the South. Another is the Charlaine Harris, Sookie Stackhouse series and Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series. I have never traveled to the South myself, but get a nice flavor of it from the settings in these stories.
Well, I lived in Miami for fifteen years and I’ll tell you that even though it it the furthest south, it is the furthest thing FROM the south.
I moved up to central Florida recently and have a couple of friends actually FROM here and from Georgia. One of my favorites is when my friend asks my son if he just got his ears lowered after he just had a haircut. At the end of a work day, my friend from Georgia used to tell me, “Well honey, I’m a fixin’ ta leave.” I’d tell her, “Well I’m a brokin’ to go!”
Metsy Hingle writes books set in the south.
A writer whose books have always interested me are Dorothea Benton Frank. Hers are lovely with settings that are special and beautiful.
Many books that are set in the South are so appealing. I have read all of Anne Rivers Siddons books and they are memorable and unique.
I haven’t read many books that are based in the South but I love Charlaine Harris’ Sookie Stackhouse series – it’s set in Louisiana!
I too have enjoyed Anne Siddons. My dad came from Mississippi and although I live next door to you (PA), I have said you all – all my life lol. I tend to slur some words (as my children like to remind me) such as potadas for potatoes and tomadas for tomatoes. I also lived there for 7 months and the slownessssssss of everything about drove me crazy! Lots of luck!
I was reading this blog entry with interest because some of the sayings that you were quoting – like the one on the haircut, and the one on your husband saying about raisin’ a ruckus was not foreign to me. Those are things that my father has been saying for years. There are other sayings he has that are strange to people out here in Alberta. Dad was born and raised in Nova Scotia, and when he first came here everyone asked what part of the Southern States he was from.
Australia! Oh, Ann that sounds wonderful. One of these days… They’re having a big romance conference in ’09.
The Southern flavor is terrific, probably from all that butter. Don’t you just love to watch Southern cooking programs? I gain weight just sitting on my couch. Maybe that’s the trouble, I’m sitting on the couch.
You all’ve been great in recommending books. I need to pick up a few. Thanks for the tips.
My favorite book set in the South must be Seduction Royale by Jennifer Blake!
Hi Diannne,
I want to mention that Metsy Hingle has books set in the south. Also, Louise Shaffer’s book, The Three Miss Margarets, is set in a charming town in Georgia. There is a lot of great imagery in this book.
Oh gosh! I am sorry about the way I spelled your name! How embarassing!
Please forgive me Dianne.
Hey, Melis. I usually spell it Dainne when I’m in a hurry. No sweat!
If you’re writing in the South getting the right feel is critical. It can’t feel like NY or Cincinnati.
And you get great weather. My daughter is in Savannah and the weather is 70, so much better than the 10 we’re expecting here in Cincy.
UGH!
The only one I can think of is JoAnn Ross.
They live down dere in Coon Holler;
I can’t hear a thang you’re saying;
Grits
As mentioned, JoAnn Ross
I’m really looking forward to Hot and Bothered. As a southern lady, I’ll say “I suwannee”, instead of “I swear”. I love sweet tea and that is what I miss most when we travel. Other areas have sweet tea, but in the south its just as strong as it is sweet. My mother in law made the best! I don’t know if it’s southern, but my mama has always said “you catch more flies with honey” and “a day late and a dollar short”.
lol can’t think of any books set in the south right off hand but some southernism I can think of is
Bless your heart
Two Stupid to Live
he needed killing
Lisa, bet your mama can really cook too.
And I say a lot of things she does. I always tell my kids, if you watch the pennies the dollars take care of themselves. Or maybe that’s more Ben Franklin than Southern.
Pam, love Too Stupid to live. I’ve met those people on the road. I don’t think anyone in Cincinnati can drive worth beans.
Thank, Lisa, for the nice thoughts about Hot and Bothered. I loved writing this book. Meant I spent the winter in Savannah with some fun people.
Melis…how could I forget “The Three Miss Margarets”??
It is loosely based on the city and the people in the town where I live!!! (Several of whom I know and had great fun ‘picking out’!) Louise and her husband lived here for a while and still maintain a home in the area.
Okay, this Three Miss Margarets sounds very interesting. I’ll have to get it. Thank!
The small town atmosphere of the South is so much fun. Wonderful characters.
Angie, did the people in your town get upset that they were in a book? I keep thinking of that October Road TV show where everyone in the town is totally pissed at this guy for putting them in his book.
The ARC Winners are…
Angie and Pearl.
Email me at DianneCastell@hotmail.com with your address and I’ll send you each an ARC.
WOW! Thanks Dianne!
And you know, no one was upset when the book came out. The characters were well camoflagued and very well written. The sequel ‘The Ladies of Garrison Gardens’ is also a must read. Garrison Gardens is modeled after Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, GA.
I always wonder if folks get upset if they find themselves in books. I wrote my brother into Hot and Bothered but I asked him first…well, sort of told him. He’s a great supporter and I thought it would be fun and it was. All his friend will know it’s him. His name is Ray and lives in Cleveland so I named the character Ray Cleveland.
Any piece by Dorothea Benton Frank and Sue Monk Kidd ought steep you thorougly in the languid rhythms of the south. Dorothea Benton Frank is also a good primer to get a feel for the basics of the Gullah dialect.
I’m a low country girl from way back, and I must say, this is one belle who yearns to go home.
Colloquial sayings don’t strike me as being necessarily southern, but a light peppering with y’alls ought get the point across.
Watching a few episodes of Paula Deen on The Food Network would be a nice primer, as well.
Howdy Liane.
A Lowcountry girl, neat! Where are you from? I’d miss it like the dickens if I moved away.
I love watching Paula Deen. My hero. How can anything with a stick of butter taste bad! Go, Paula. I subscribe to Southern Living and Cooking Light. I figure they balance each other out.
Enjoy. Here is my 2 cents anyway:
Yes, those SEXY CALLAHAN BROTHERS, Sherryl Woods Sweet Magnolia series and Karen Kelly’s Southern Exposure and Southern Comfort.
Hope you all have a wonderful weekend.
Karen does great Southern! And what humor.
Thanks for the suggestions.
Y’all have a great weekend too.
Hugs
Congrats Angie-La and Pearl! I am sure you will love her book HOT AND BOTHERED! Dianne is such an awesome writer!
Hey Angie-La,
I just loved the book, THE THREE MISS MARGARETS! Oh how neat to have it modeled after your hometown along with the book’s characters resembling the people you know!
The town close to me called Valparaiso,Indiana was also modeled after in a book. It is the Flower Shop series by Kate Collins who wrote MUM’S THE WORD, SLAY IT WITH FLOWERS, etc. I met her at the Barnes & Noble in Valpraiso. I got to ask her questions about the books and she autographed them for me. It is so much fun reading a book when it is set in a town that you know about! I would love to visit your town sometime! I love the south!
Michele L.
I agree, Michele.
After I read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil then went to Savannah it was so neat to see the places I’d just read about. Boniventure Cemetary,
Jones Street, the courthouse, etc. I think it’s one of the reasons I set Hot and Bothered there. Even based one of my characters after Jim Williams…except he isn’t gay or kill anyone, he’s dashing, in love and ownes a hotel.