diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index fa556a5d..8308f88d 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@
 This project follows [semver 2.0.0](http://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0.html) and the
 recommendations of [keepachangelog.com](http://keepachangelog.com/).
 
-## Next Major Version: 9
+## 9.0.0 (Unreleased)
 
-In PT 8, the following are deprecated, and will be removed in 9:
+### Breaking Changes
 
 - [#479](https://github.com/airblade/paper_trail/issues/479) - Deprecated
   `originator` method, use `paper_trail_originator`
@@ -17,7 +17,15 @@ In PT 8, the following are deprecated, and will be removed in 9:
 - [#997](https://github.com/airblade/paper_trail/pull/997) -
   where_object_changes reading YAML from a text column
 
-## Unreleased
+### Added
+
+- None
+
+### Fixed
+
+- None
+
+## 8.1.0 (2017-11-30)
 
 ### Breaking Changes
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 51fed882..5a6a8d53 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ has been destroyed.
 | Version        | Documentation |
 | -------------- | ------------- |
 | Unreleased     | https://github.com/airblade/paper_trail/blob/master/README.md |
-| 8.0.1          | https://github.com/airblade/paper_trail/blob/v8.0.1/README.md |
+| 8.1.0          | https://github.com/airblade/paper_trail/blob/v8.1.0/README.md |
 | 7.1.3          | https://github.com/airblade/paper_trail/blob/v7.1.3/README.md |
 | 6.0.2          | https://github.com/airblade/paper_trail/blob/v6.0.2/README.md |
 | 5.2.3          | https://github.com/airblade/paper_trail/blob/v5.2.3/README.md |
diff --git a/lib/paper_trail/version_number.rb b/lib/paper_trail/version_number.rb
index 4725739f..9b378a46 100644
--- a/lib/paper_trail/version_number.rb
+++ b/lib/paper_trail/version_number.rb
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ module PaperTrail
   # People are encouraged to use `PaperTrail.gem_version` instead.
   module VERSION
     MAJOR = 8
-    MINOR = 0
-    TINY = 1
+    MINOR = 1
+    TINY = 0
     PRE = nil
 
     STRING = [MAJOR, MINOR, TINY, PRE].compact.join(".").freeze
diff --git a/paper_trail.gemspec b/paper_trail.gemspec
index ec20cfcc..b9c08fb0 100644
--- a/paper_trail.gemspec
+++ b/paper_trail.gemspec
@@ -34,12 +34,12 @@ has been destroyed.
   s.add_development_dependency "database_cleaner", "~> 1.6"
   s.add_development_dependency "ffaker", "~> 2.7"
   s.add_development_dependency "generator_spec", "~> 0.9.4"
-  s.add_development_dependency "mysql2", "~> 0.4.9"
+  s.add_development_dependency "mysql2", "~> 0.4.10"
   s.add_development_dependency "pg", "~> 0.21.0"
-  s.add_development_dependency "rack-test", "~> 0.6.3"
-  s.add_development_dependency "rake", "~> 12.1"
-  s.add_development_dependency "rspec-rails", "~> 3.7.1"
-  s.add_development_dependency "rubocop", "0.51.0"
+  s.add_development_dependency "rack-test", [">= 0.6.3", "< 0.9"]
+  s.add_development_dependency "rake", "~> 12.3"
+  s.add_development_dependency "rspec-rails", "~> 3.7.2"
+  s.add_development_dependency "rubocop", "~> 0.51.0"
   s.add_development_dependency "rubocop-rspec", "~> 1.19.0"
   s.add_development_dependency "sqlite3", "~> 1.3"
   s.add_development_dependency "timecop", "~> 0.9.1"