sarah · dessen

Accent? You don't have a Southern accent!

Yeah, your voice is a little southern, but I don't think it's that heavy. When I was a baby, my parents considered moving to North Carolina (we live in NYS) and it's weird to think I might've had a different voice!

This is going to sound very strange for me to point out but my mom's from NYC and my dad's from Baltimore, too. But I've always been the person to look for things I have in common with people, even stupid little things like this. Yeah, it's strange.
But I live in Baltimore, not North Carolina (even if I want to go to UNC Chapel Hill for college. One of the reasons I read your journal...after your books of course).
Oh, and I know what you mean about not realizing you have an accent b/c I definitely don't think I have one but whenever I go to Long Island or Boston to visit cousins they're always like, "This is my Southern cousin. Just listen to her accent!" And I'm not even that South!
- Rosalee

PS - I'm rereading your books set in summer in hopes that they will bring the warm weather back sooner. Well, I'm reading every book I can find set in summer but I must say that your summer books are the best ones!

I'm coming from way up in the currently frozen wonderland of Michigan (and mid-Michigan, at that, which. . .well, let's just say it's very different than Detroit), and I would not say you have a southern accent at all. It's more of a New Yorkish accent to me, but without all the nasal stuff that sometimes accompanies that. In fact, you sound a lot like a friend of mine from Southern California, where I'm pretty sure you'd be beaten if you called it the South!

--Brian

That's the same with my parents, my mom's from NYC and my dad's from Bmore. Definitely going to help out with getting that show un-canceled.

I didn't think you had a southern accent. The book sounds amazing! I can't wait until it comes out. Oh, and thanks for getting me hooked on Friday Night Lights, the wonder of online TV! Thanks and have fun with your little darling!

I was listening to the excerpt of Lock and Key that you posted yesterday and what I heard inspired me to ask this question....do you actually slam the door in Jehovah's Witnesses faces? Have you ever spoken to one or are you just speaking from what you have heard???

I listened to the audio clip and I can't hear your accent. I suppose that means I have the same one, though, lol.

I listened to the audio clip, and I'm surprised people said you have a Southern accent as well! Of course, I'm from Missouri (and spent the first 6-7 years of my life in Arkansas), so I probably have an accent that other people would hear that I don't. And that's also probably why I don't think you have an accent, but people from other parts of the country think so. *shrug* Weird!

well, i listened to your clip and i didn't hear an accent. but...i'm also from atlanta. so thats probably why. your accent sounds like mine. most of the people who live in georgia, now, they have really strong accents. "get" is "git", that kind of thing. either way, your voice sounds exactly like i imagined it would!

i can't wait for lock and key! you are awesome. you should come to atlanta if you ever get to go on tour again now that you are a mommy.

This is just shocking to hear....but IF Jericho could be saved--surely Friday Night Lights can be!

At the beginning your accents noticable...such as the way you say "book" but then it kind of doesnt seem there...only on certain words. But you def. have an accent. I like your voice! LOL it might sound odd, but when I youtubed Billy Collins I was almost sad at the delivery of his poems (his voice was so monotone!) but now that I think about it, this approach really lets the poems speak for themselves, not his delivery in reading them. So, anyway, I like your voice! And cant wait for Lock and Key!

Here's another campaign where you send in light bulbs, to keep the lights on. Just thought I would tell you about it. http://www.bestweekever.tv/2008/02/08/lights-on-send-light-bulbs-to-nbc-to-save-friday-night-lights/

I'm worried about the show as well.

It's definitely time to save FNL!!

OH MY GOD you have the SLIGHTEST southern accent i have ever heard. i am from nc and i have more of an accent than you. you don't have much of a twang at all. really. you sound northern to me. i grew up with the hicky types...hahaha.

yankees are the only people who would think you have a southern accent.

You sound Southern during some words, but I didn't mind it. It's mostly a hint of Southern, in the midst of non-Southerness, more than anything else. :)

Aww, I finally got to that link of the excerpt, as my comp wasn't working yesterday. I'm so excited to read the rest of L&K now, thanks for sharing :)

I wasn't really surprised that you had a southern accent. But I did find it kind of cool. It's always weird when you picture someone a certain way, and when you hear them it's a whole other story. It changes someone.
And by the way, I listened to that audio clip, and I'm so excited for this book. It sounds awesome.

I'm with you. Thanks for the link...Riggins is the cutest guy on TV bar none and I'm loving his new church "devotion" to land Lila. He's adorable.

I'm with you. Thanks for the link...Riggins is the cutest guy on TV bar none and I'm loving his new church "devotion" to land Lila. He's adorable.

I, myself, am not hearing a southen accent. There's certainly a twang but nothing extreme. Mostly on the vowels but that's about it.

You sound so different than what I expected! You sound so young! Like in your late teens or early twenties or something. Wow. That's trippy. Meeheehee. :)

Hope Sasha and ye husband are well as well as yourself. Happy Valentines Day!

Send Clear Eyes to NBC! That's about the best idea I've ever heard...besides pelting the people who work at NBC with footballs...

By the way, the clip of Lock and Key was amazing. I can't wait to read it.

I didnt notice an accent at all.
though here in TX people always tell me I have an east coast accent (?) so consider the source.

C.

So I had a chance to sit down and listen to the excerpt of Lock and Key. First I must say that I enjoy your books and blog. However, like the other reader who commented on Monday, I too did not appreciate the slam. As one of Jehovah's witnesses, our aim is to bring comfort from the Bible. No matter who we are or what religion we are apart of we all face the same problems. Reactions like the one that Ruby has in the book are no suprise to me and expected. For anyone out there reading this, next time one of us comes to your door take the time and just listen. You may suprised. Other than that I am still interested in finding out what happenes to Ruby.

you know, i'm sort of surprised so many people are commenting on the jehovah's witnesses "slam". i didn't hear it as a slam against your/their particular religion at all. i heard it as part of the story about a girl who tries very hard to keep people away from her door and therefore out of her life. ruby was described as shutting the door on everyone (even the yellow house's landlords) to get them to leave her alone. she didn't want anyone there, no matter what their message was. i don't believe it was meant to be taken as anything personal. it just shows how private ruby wants her life to remain, and how hard she works to keep other people out of it under any and all circumstances.

I agree. It wasn't a slam at all. She's had a very rough life and is trying to keep the world out so she can just survive a little longer.

Besides, if you aren't surprised because it's a common reaction, why get upset? Sarah is just demonstrating what most people do. It makes characters more real by giving them normal reactions and feelings.

xxAmber

I commented on Monday. And I don't think I or the person who commented above are upset at all. I think we were both just trying to say that rather than slam the door we would like to encourage people to just spare a few moments if possible and, as Owen would say, Just Listen.

Well, I don't think you have a southern accent! I'm 16 and from Ohio. I absolutely love your books, especially This Lullaby. I've read it over and over and get something new from it every time. I'm so excited for Lock and Key!! I can easily say you are my favorite author.
Good luck with your daughter and everything else!
Katie :]

Your Southern accent isn't THAT bad...
I liked it. The accent and the excerpt.
Although I must say, I imagined your voice differently in my head...
LOVE YOU SARAH!
CAN'T WAIT FOR LOCK AND KEY!

hey, i have never been on this website until today and i just got almost all of your books from my library to read after finishing the truth about forever, which by the way was beyond amazing! Anyways, i was wondering if you think that you are gunna write a lot more books,, cause if you arent, then you definately should =) .. well let me know if there are more books to come!

thanks