We're going off-topic for today's blog post. Check out the video below. That's yours truly sitting at the wheel. Thanks to the camera harness buckled at my chest, it's like you're right there with me at every turn.

Strap in for a driver's seat view of high speed action and my ridiculously hairy forearms. Feel all the raw excitement of five-horsepower pull-start lawnmower engines whipping around banked corners on ten-inch tires. Several near-misses and a few full-contact collisions make for a wicked ride.

Enjoy!

A year sure seems like a long time, but it's amazing how quickly one can go by. Exactly one year ago today, August 8th, The Gullwing Odyssey was published. The world was introduced to luckless Marco, panicky Kuril, persnickety Maldronigan, and all the other kooks who had a hand in Marco's journey.

As Gullwing enters its second year, plans are underway to continue the series. I started on the sequel in 2013 and got about 19,000 words in when I lost traction. Looking back over my notes, I felt the story wasn't as strong as I had initially thought. I ended up scrapping the project altogether. It was one of those dreaded "back to the drawing board" moments, but the silver lining in all this is that the new finished product will be better as a result. While I'm still only just working off of a bare bones outline, I like the direction the new story is taking, and I can't wait to flesh it out.

Marco's adventures are far from over -- there's still far too much in store for him and his friends to let a little writer's block get in the way of things.

Ocean travel can be dangerous, especially when pirates abound -- not to mention sea monsters, storms, and who knows what else. Thus, ingenious minds are always at work designing stronger ships, and others at finding faster ways to wreck them.

I've added a new section under the Features page: "Sailing Ships & Pirates", because nothing brightens one's day more than the sight of the skull and crossbones on the horizon.

That's sarcasm, folks.

Go to the Sailing Ships & Pirates section to learn about the magnificent ships featured in The Gullwing Odyssey, and the pirates -- I mean, seagoing gentlemen and ladies -- who command them.

The page will see regular updates as noteworthy new ships are introduced... and others are sunk  to the briny depths.