Fantasy and fiction are wonderful, but they’re especially fun when they have a basis in fact! I’m often looking up all sorts of things as I craft a story, and this is my chance to share them with you. Here are five things I learned this week:
- We think of bison as an animal mainly in the American West, but at one point in time their territory may have stretched almost to the Atlantic Coast. (There are lots of other bison facts here.)
- The first known use of the word ‘lunch’ (in its current meaning) dates back to 1786.
- Flannel was invented in the 17th century by the Welsh. (These flannel sheets are my absolute favorite no matter what time of year it is!)
- Which came first, the snap or the zipper? It’s one of the most asked questions of all time. The snap was invented in 1885 as a fastener for men’s trousers. The zipper, originally known as the ‘clasp locker,’ was invented in 1893.
- Washington Irving, author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, gave New York City its nickname of Gotham.
Some of these facts made it into my Timelines for Writers on my Writers’ Resources page, so be sure to head there for more information! What did you learn this week?
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Ashley O’Melia is an independent author and freelancer from Southern Illinois. She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University. Her books include The Wanderer’s Guide to Dragon Keeping and The Graveside Detective. Her short stories have been published in The Penmen Review, Siren’s Call, and Subcutaneous. Ashley’s freelance work has spanned numerous genres for clients around the world. You can find her on Facebook and Amazon.
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Ashley O'Melia, Author 