Padgett Gerler was born on the coast of South Carolina but grew up in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. Spending winters in Covington, Virginia, she'd return each summer to Pawleys Island, South Carolina for vacations with her extended family. Padgett has spent most of her adult life in the Coastal and Piedmont regions of North Carolina. Over time she has developed a keen ear for the rich nuances of southern dialect, from the mountains to the coast.

Padgett Gerler is fluent in southern idiom, which she uses well but does not overuse. Calculated grammatical errors are used effectively.   - Southwest Manuscripters

Mama's real brave during the day. I guess she don't want us youngins to see her break down. But at night I hear her crying in her bed. My poor mama. She lost her baby. Mamas shouldn't oughtter lose their babies, should they? Well, I hear her crying, and I hear my sweet daddy trying to comfort her, saying, "There, there, Bren." I think he's trying to make her stop crying, but why? I say you oughtter let a body cry and cry and cry till all the sorrow bleeds right out.

From THE SUMMER THE AIR CHANGED

We'd stand nose-to-nose, holding hands and giggling maniacally, as we jumped wave after wave after wave. From time to time we'd encounter one we just couldn't conquer, and we'd be sent tumbling end over end to shore. Once we surfaced, we'd gasp for air, blow saltwater out of our noses, tug at our sand-laden swimsuits, and rush back out to tackle more swells.

From GETTING THE IMPORTANT THINGS RIGHT