diff --git a/FastGeodis/_version.py b/FastGeodis/_version.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fe2150e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/FastGeodis/_version.py
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+# following guidance from: https://stackoverflow.com/a/7071358
+__version__ = "1.0.5"
\ No newline at end of file