Historical Fiction: revealing history

It's pretty cool when you're researching for a historical fiction novel because you learn SO much information about a time that you thought you knew, but come to find out, you actually know NOTHING about it, at least not in the practical sense. It would be so embarrassing for my 10th grade history teacher if she knew.

Of course I knew that in 1776 the Declaration of Independence was signed, as most people do.

But, I didn't know these things about our fledgling country:

• women wore fingerless gloves (but there was a cap for the thumb- thumbs are colder I guess??)
• a woman's corset was called a "stay" 
• eggs and bacon was NOT a common breakfast; cornmeal mush was 
• soldiers were REQUIRED to keep their faces shaven and clean at all times; we imagine scruffiness would be more bold, courageous, even soldierly, but no. (maybe because more chance for lice in close tent quarters? I doubt that's it. Looks like it was just culture back then.)
• and of course I found out that it takes twice as long to write a novel of this sort because you have to spend 30 minutes researching not only the type of utensils they used, but what ale they drank, what they called their parents, and much, much more, with every page!

It's been quite an undertaking but also a fulfilling process. Exciting to have my novel come together into a real, live book! 

Fingers crossed we get things to the next level. ;)