My hero Jack (Lonely Alpha) has a Southern accent (he's from Tennessee).  It's one of the things I like about him.

But I wasn't always such a fan of Southern accents. In fact, when I first moved to the South, I wasn't particularly enthusiastic about them. Maybe it was because I worked at restaurants and occassionally had trouble understanding people. But over time, I got used to it, and I can't remember the last time I couldn't make out what someone was saying. But for a while, while working as a hostess at a steak house, I found it kind of hilarious that so many people would ask for 'ass' in their drinks. They were saying 'ice', but to me, it sounded just like 'ass'. And then, the other staff would go out of their way to get me to say words with 'O' in them, because they found the way I pronounced those words highly amusing.

Nobody ever really thinks of themselves as having an accent, do they? I mean, other people might think of you that way, but I think most people just naturally assume that the way they speak is the natural way. Which never really makes much sense, because each language has its own set of diverse accents and dialects.

But nowadays, I do like Southern accents. Especially the one that are more drawling and easy than the twangy kinds. (There are different kinds - and maybe that description sounds weird to people who've never lived in the South. I don't know. But I think it would make sense to most who've lived here.)

Plus, if someone is really attractive (as the heroes in  my books inevitably are), most people are probably going to think of their accent as attractive too.


I stopped caring about the ass/ice thing when I became acquainted with the deliciousness of iced tea. I don't care what you call it, it's amazing.
What about you? Do you like Southern accents - maybe you have a favorite hero who has one? Do you think of yourself as having an accent, and if so, what kind?