If I've been quiet on my social media accounts, it's not been for lack of news. A lot is going on.

For starters, the Florida Writers Association will host its annual convention next month. I'm currently making arrangements to secure an author table. Yours truly will be in attendance for two days, October 25th and 26th, to sign autographs, pose for photos, and chat with fans. If you plan to attend or happen to be in the Orlando area during those dates, swing by and say hello.

Then, of course, there is the convention's crowning moment: the Royal Palm Literary Award Banquet, on the evening of October 25th. Earlier this year I was thrilled to learn that my book was chosen as an award finalist. That's an accomplishment in itself for a first novel. Wish me luck on October 25th.

November's shaping up to be a big month too. Negotiations are underway with a local university to host me for an author meet and greet. I'm also flattered to say that I've been invited to give a presentation before a book club. I'll have more details on those later.

Here's some news that can't wait for the regular Friday update: today, September 15, 2014, The Gullwing Odyssey topped out at #5 on Amazon's best sellers list.

Today sets the new high water mark -- the novel hit #7 on December 17, 2013 (see post) and #6 on February 28, 2014 (see post).

This all wouldn't have been possible without you, the readers. As always, I sincerely appreciate your support.

Before you go into angry paroxysms over the horrible grammar in the title, let me explain. Dogecoin (symbol: Ð) is an electronic currency similar to Bitcoin. I'm proud to announce that I'm now accepting Dogecoin as payment for all paperback purchases. Dogecoin is a quirky currency, and I write quirky books -- the combination couldn't be more right.

To celebrate this event, I'm offering paperback copies of The Gullwing Odyssey at a 10% discount, if you pay in Dogecoin and make your purchase from this website. Free shipping to the continental U.S. is included.

Due to Dogecoin's cash-like nature, I've linked a special order form to handle orders placed in Dogecoins. You can get there by clicking the Dogecoin picture anywhere you see it on this site.

Mention the word "doge" around any historian and you'll likely evoke a response along the lines of a medieval Italian ruler. That's not what I'm referring to here. "Doge" is an Internet meme that is believed to have started with an intentional misspelling of "dog" on the popular website Homestar Runner. Dogecoin was inaugurated as an electronic currency during the rise of Bitcoin -- purportedly as a joke at first. It traces its origins to the "doge" Internet meme, which is characterized by a photo of a Shiba Inu with its thoughts captioned in "dogespeak" (utilizing poor grammar and comic sans font).

In yet another case of truth being stranger than fiction, Dogecoin has since found its place as an acceptable method of payment across the Internet. Nowadays, many merchants, both online and brick-and-mortar, accept Dogecoin, and who wouldn't take a currency with a cute shiba inu puppy as a mascot?