by Cate MastersIn researching for my 1Night Stand short, hot romance, I did a little digging into Southernisms, those sassy sayings that always bring a smile. There seems to be one for every occasion and situation. Some make me wish I’d thought of them.
Like this one: swinging my legs from a dime. What an inventive way to say you’re embarrassed! So yes, I had to use that one. Here are a few others that brought a chuckle:
My cow died last night so I don’t need your bull
He fell out of the ugly tree and hit every branch on the way down
Screwed, blued and tattooed
Guilty as homemade sin
As easy as sliding off a greasy log backward
You are the turd of misery
You’ve got champagne taste with a beer pocketbook
And here’s a phrase you can add to any exclamation to add extra oomph: with a tail on it.
Once I began adding these sayings to scenes of Tonight You Belong to Me, it added the perfect flavor. More than Paula Deen herself could have!
I have a soft spot for Southern ladies. My mother-in-law was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky. When she talked, everything sounded a bit more special. Mark Twain said it best: “Southerners talk music!” So this story’s dedicated to Gracie. Saucy Southern girl that she was, I think she’d approve. :)
Here’s the blurb:
Danny O’Malley’s screwed. The love of his life, Jillian Jones, tossed him out, thinking he’d cheated. They’d moved to Las Vegas together, hoping to find their big break at the Castillo Resort. Now he’s in deep with a loan shark to pay for the 1NS date with Jilly, his last chance to win her heart again.
Jillian Jones wants to see Sin City – in her rearview mirror. Agreeing to a blind 1NS date as a favor to a friend on her last night in Las Vegas, she melts when Danny plays their song: Tonight You Belong to Me. Thinking one night reliving the past won’t hurt, she ends up in bed with Danny. But when two thugs break in demanding money, Jilly finds she might go out with a bang in an unexpected way. Can she save him, and their relationship?
**Leave a comment with your email address for an opportunity to win the Decadent Publishing 1Night Stand book of your choice! Winners will be contacted via email**
Multipublished, award-winning author Cate Masters loves stories with a dash of magic, mayhem and romance! Reviewers have described her stories as “so compelling, I did not want to put it down,” and “such romantic tales that really touch your soul.”
When not spending time with her family, she can be found in her lair, concocting a magical brew of contemporary, historical, and fantasy/paranormal stories with her cat Chairman Maiow and dog Lily as company. Look for her at http://catemasters.blogspot.com, and in strange nooks and far-flung corners of the web.
Cate loves to hear from readers. Email her at: cate.masters[AT]gmail.com
Who doesnt love the southern drawl and my lord, those expressions are funny, sexy and out right silly. Thanks for sharing, Cate. I'm getting my copy now. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteThanks Arlene! You're a sweetie. :)
ReplyDeleteMy mother-in-law had a wonderful Southern accent. It really was musical, and she lit up any room she entered.
Love those sayings! I've heard some of them before, but not all.
ReplyDeleteHappy Release Day, Cate! :)
Thanks Jessica! I hadn't heard some of them either. They're pretty catchy!
ReplyDeleteAll those sayings are great. Made me laugh. Thanks for the giveaway. Congrats on the new release.
ReplyDeleteLove the sayings and congrats on the release.
ReplyDeleteThanks much, Joanne and Dawn!
ReplyDeleteOoh now I have some more saying to add to my collection. Wonderful post!
ReplyDeleteI love unrequited love stories! Congrats on your new release!!
ReplyDeleteLove it!!! Thanks for sharing them. congrats on the release!
ReplyDeleteNever heard guilty as homemade sin, but we say ugly as homemade sin here. Hell bent, west and crooked is another. Katy, bar the door (although that has more to it depending on where you're located). Colder than a witch's tit...lol, got a lot of 'em.
ReplyDeleteI had a friend who always said, "Shit the bed, George!" whenever she was angry at herself. I picked that up for my own personal use, although nobody knows why I'm saying it.
ReplyDelete"Going to Hell in a handbasket" and "Geez, Louise" are two other favorites of mine.
When Hell freezes over is another one of my faves.
ReplyDeleteToo funny! Congrats on the release!
ReplyDeleteLots of good ones! Too funny. Gives me a new appreciation of Southern wit. :)
ReplyDeleteThere's lots of odd names for food too, lol. Sh** on a shingle is one of 'em. That's corned beef on toast. :-)
ReplyDeleteMy hubby loves that, Faith - and that's exactly what he calls it. :)
ReplyDeleteMy family's from the South, so love hearing these. :) Congrats on your release!!
ReplyDeleteAs useless as tits on a bull.
ReplyDeleteThanks VS.
ReplyDeleteDawn, I almost spit out my tea, lol. Too funny.
Happy Release Day!
ReplyDeleteI grew up in New England and then moved to Texas. Texas friends told me anything can lose the sting of harsh words with a simple "Bless her/his heart" thrown in.
I love hearing some of these sayings again. My family is from New Mexico and Texas so I grew up hearing so many of these. My favorite has always been...You’ve got champagne taste with a beer pocketbook. I also drink Southern Sweet Tea. My hubby makes fun of me as he is a Yank.
ReplyDeleteMel
bournmelissa@hotmail.com
Hi Cate,
ReplyDeleteHappy Release Day! i love the cover, it's gorgeous and the book sounds wonderful. i love the 1Nstand series.
i have heard most of those saying all my life, we use they out west too(Wyoming/Montana/Idaho).
we also have other like : (my personal favorite, i laugh everytime i hear it) they are dumber than a mud fence/ means you have no common sense. are you a few watts short of a lightbulb/means just what it sounds like,the person is asking if your crazy or just dumb. :)
when someone is a traveler or unsettled we call them a tumbelweed unless they are a working cowboy and then we call they a hand or a working hand.
also there are things like try and light the fire in a rain storm/again means lack of common sense, float down the river with no paddle and a hole in the boat you better hope you have a bucket/ means your in a world of trouble and you better start bailing. LOL!
those are just a few of ours i hope you'll let me know some more of your southernisms? :D
tammy ramey
trvlagnt1t@yahoo.com
The best part about their humor is that they're so true, Mel! I haven't heard of Southern Sweet Tea, but I'm a tea lover too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tammy! Love those sayings, they are great!
Congratulations, Cate!! Funny isn't it how the sayings seem to morph a little from one area to another - we have versions of these in the UK too that differ from region to region.
ReplyDelete$40 saddle on a $20 horse. My husband is from the south and uses that one a lot.
ReplyDeleteOh my, I LOVE the Southern accent. For sure. I blame Patrick Swayze and his role in North and South. Nothing like a Southern Gent to whisk a women in distress off her feet and to safety.
ReplyDeleteGrats on the new release!!
"No sweat off a monkey's back" is another one according to my southern husband. I lived in the south for over 10 years and hadn't heard any of them but my hubby knew a few. I thought they were funny!
ReplyDeletebooks4me67 at ymail dot com
That's interesting, Barbara. Guess travelers helped popularize them. Very cool.
ReplyDeleteToo funny, Donna.
It does add to their charm JaAnne :)
Another good one, books!
Thanks again, everyone! You helped make this release even more fun :)
ReplyDeleteI tossed everyone's names into a bowl and my daughter drew out...
Mel
Congrats, Mel! I'll email you to find out which 1NS story strikes your fancy. :)
Ack, sorry I mistyped your name, JoAnne
ReplyDelete