NEWS
NEWS & UPDATES OPTIONS
1) Subscribe to the Mark Leslie Newsletter (For Readers) or the Stark Reflections Newsletter (for Authors)
2) Stark Reflections Podcast – weekly podcast about the business of writing & publishing.
3) Follow Mark on Twitter or Instagram or check out his YouTube channel or his Author Facebook Page.
NEWSROOM
- Mark is researching and soliciting stories and insights for a few forthcoming books:
Forthcoming Appearances
- Jan 21, 2021 – Quill & Ink Facebook Live Interview – 7 PM Eastern.
Feb 18, 19, 20, 2021 – Superstars Writing Seminars (Colorado Springs, CO)[2021 event cancelled due to Covid-19. 2022 event will resume. ]Spring 2021 – Liberty States Fiction Writers Conference – Keynote Speaker (Clark, NJ) [Being Rescheduled to Fall 2021 due to Covid-19]- Sept 18, 19, 2021 – Career Author Summit (Nashville, TN)
Previous appearances, interviews, talks on radio, television, podcasts, publications, etc.
- Jan 10, 2021 – The Douglas Coleman Show (Video Interview)
- Jan 7, 2021 – Quoted in Article: The Top Ten Publishing Trends Every Author Needs to Know
- Jan 6, 2020 – Sharing Broadband Streams / Collaborative Project Launch
2020
- Dec 28, 2020 –Talking Fiction Obsessions with Mark Leslie – Interview on Book Lights with Lisa Kessler
- Dec 19, 2020 – Virtual Presentation on Digital Publishing to David Farland’s Apex-Writer’s Group
- Dec 18, 2020 – Interview with Caramel Lucas on Keepin It Real w/Caramel “As We Say 100”
- Dec 18, 2020 – Interview along with Peter C. Mitchell, author of Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough by Alex Lewczuk, of Siren Radio / Southside Broadcasting.
- Dec 16, 2020 – Story Studio Podcast (Guest) – State of the Industry with Mark Lefebvre from Draft2Digital
- Dec 8, 2020 – You’ve Written A Book, Now What? (Virtual presentation with Susie Moloney, Writer in Residence at Edmonton Public Library)
- Dec 7, 2020 – Teen Writer’s Night with author Mark Leslie (Virtual event) – Eastern Monroe Public Library / Teen Programs (Stroudsburg, PA)
- Dec 4, 2020 -PTLN News – Guest along with Peter C. Mitchell author of Rude Awakenings from Sleeping Rough
- Nov 19, 2020 – Draft2Digital Special ASK US ANYTHING about new feature: Payment Splitting
- Nov 18, 2020 – Mark signed a deal with and is now represented by Creative Edge Publicity
- Nov 17, 2020 – Livres Canada Books – Print-on-Demand as an Export Tool (English webinar) – FREE Webinar / Registration Required
- Nov 7, 2020 – SFFCon – Podcasting Panel – Panelists: James S. Aaron (moderator), Josh Hayes, Lauren Moore, Mark Leslie Lefebvre, Tom Merritt (Watch on YouTube)
- Nov 4, 2020 – Guest on Just Joshing Podcast – Episode 442
- Oct 29, 2020 – Draft2Digital ASK US ANYTHING with Dan Wood, Kevin Tumlinson, and Mark Leslie Lefebvre
- Oct 28, 2020 – Creepy Halloween Reading with Nancy Kilpatrick. Mark introduces Nancy Kilpatrick who does a short story reading and then briefly interviews her about her writing.
- Oct 27, 2020 – Waterloo Public Library (Writing Ghost Stories)
- Oct 26, 2020 – CTV News Sudbury
- Oct 25, 2020 – Sudbury Star: Authors team up for six spooky, Sudbury-themed stories
- Oct 21, 2020 – What’s Power Got To Do With It? Mark interviews author and consultant Cate Collins about her new book THE POWERHOUSE IN YOU.
- Oct 21, 2020 – 900 CHML / Global News – Online party, virtual ghost walks among the alternate options for Halloween in Hamilton
- Oct 20, 2020 – Book Release: Strange Sudbury Stories (Short story collection co-authored with Sean Costello and Scott Overton)
- Sudbury.com Article: Three Sudbury authors release collection just in time for Halloween
- Oct 16, 2020 – Book Release: Too Macabre for Montreal: Tales Deemed Too Disturbing for MACABRE MONTREAL – non-fiction true crime co-authored with Shayna Krishnasamy
- Oct 6, 2020 – Wish I’d Known Then . . . For Writers Podcast: Mark Leslie Lefebvre on Thinking Beyond the eBook.
- Oct 1, 2020 – Draft2Digital Live: Self-Publishing Insiders – Mark interviews author M.L. Buchman
- Oct 1, 2020 – 20Booksto50K® Live chat with Craig Martelle – Mark Leslie Lefebvre & D2D state of the industry
- Sept 29, 2020 – Waterloo Public Library (Virtual Workshop) – Basic Book Marketing Strategies for Writers
- Sept 24, 2020 – NINC (Novelist’s Ink) – Draft2Digital Presentation. Self-Publishing: The Evolution will be Digitized (Virtual presentation in collaboration with Kevin Tumlinson and Dan Wood)
- Sept 21 – Sept 24, 2020 – Fiction Marketing Academy Free Online Event – Mark will be presenting, as part of 30 other industry pros speaking for this event, on day 4 (Sept 24th) on Leveraging Short Fiction for Additional Revenue and Marketing. Register here.
- Sept 22, 2020 – Waterloo Public Library (Virtual Workshop) – Step by Step Digital Publishing – How to Get your eBook Published into the Global Market
- Sept 24, 2020 – Leveraging Short Fiction for Additional Revenue and Marketing (Part of the Fiction Marketing Academy free online event from Sept 21 to 24)
- Sept 15, 2020 – Waterloo Public Library (Virtual Workshop) – Learning About Publishing Options for Writers. Is DIY Digital Publishing for me?
- Sept 11, 2020 – Draft2Digital Live: Ask Us Anything. Mark, along with Kevin Tumlinson and Dan Wood answering author questions live.
- August 27, 2020 – Draft2Digital Live: Self-Publishing Insiders Video chat featuring Mark and Kevin Tumlinson: “The Author Industry Inside Out“
- August 22, 2020 – “Authors in Quarantine: Mark Leslie Lefebvre” interview on Speculating Canada: Canadian Horror, Science Fiction, and Fantasy
- August 21, 2020 – Mell & Chris in the Morning – Q92 Rock – FM Radio / Sudbury
- August 19, 2020 – Draft2Digital Live: Self-Publishing Insiders Video chat. Mark interviews Erin Wright of WIDE FOR THE WIN
- August 18, 2020 – STOWE AWAY – Book 1.5 in the Canadian Werewolf series releases in hardcover, trade paperback, eBook, and audiobook
- Aug 16, 2020 -The Sudbury Star online (from an Aug 15 print article) – Levack Author Reflects on how Sudbury shaped his latest book
- Aug 15, 2020 – Host of the 2020 Aurora Awards Ceremony (Virtual Event Live Stream)
- Aug 14, 15, 16, 2020 – When Words Collide (Calgary, AB) – Adapted to Virtual Conference due to Covid-19
- Aug 14, 2020 – Draft2Digital Self Publishing Insiders Live Video chat. Mark interviews Marta Sprout – Thrillers with Law Enforcement Insider Marta Sprout.
- Aug 10, 2020 – Guest on UNSTOPPABLE AUTHORS Podcast with Holly Lyne – Episode 4.17 – Author Branding and Getting into Libraries and Bookstores with Mark Leslie Lefebvre
- Guest on BEST BOOK EVER PODCAST with host Julie Strauss – Episode 9 – Talking about Earth Abides by George R. Stewart
- July 30, 2020 – Self Publishing Insiders with Draft2Digital – Ask Us Anything, Mark with Kevin Tumlinson and Dan Wood
- July 22, 2020 – Self Publishing Insiders with Draft2Digital – Mark interviews Chris Humphreys – Being a Hybrid Author, Actor, and Narrator
- July 14 though 21, 2020 – Western Colorado University Publishing MA class – guest speaker
- June 30, 2020 – Guest on Bigfoot and the Bunny – Live to Broadcast and YouTube Stream (9 PM Eastern)
- June 30, 2020 – Self Publishing Insiders with Draft2Digital – Mark interviews Luanga ‘Lue’ Nuwame – Comics, Cardboard, and Crafts
- June 29, 2020 -Guest on The Midnight Society – Midnight.FM: Where it’s always Midnight™ Live Streaming Broadcast (10 PM to 1 AM Eastern)
- June 16, 2020 – Hamilton Public Library (Virtual) (Hamilton, ON) – Talk about Haunted Hamilton and Haunted Hospitals
- June 11, 2020 – The Richard Spasoff Show with Mark Leslie, Canadian Author (Ghost Stories) Episode 66.
- June 11, 2020 – The Career Author Podcast – Episode 130 – The Publishing Industry Panel – Publishing experts and leaders from Kobo, Google Play, Draft2Digital, Reedsy, and Vellum explore the future of publishing in this unique and enthralling panel discussion.
- June 8, 2020 – Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews Scott Overton
- June 6, 2020 – InkersCon – Office hours with authors and a virtual presentation: “12 Things You Likely Didn’t Know About Draft2Digital”
- June 5, 2020 –Coast to Coast AM with George Noory – Haunted Hospitals / Open Lines (Midnight to 3 AM Eastern)
- June 5, 2020 – Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews Matty Dalrymple.
- June 4, 2020 – The Career Author Podcast – Episode 129 – An Hour with Draft2Digital (featuring Mark, Kevin, and Dan – from an appearance at the 2020 Career Author Summit)
- June 3, 2020 -Guest Host Spot on Episode 178 of The Writer’s Well (Mark co-hosts with Rachael Herron, playing the role of J. Thorn, but with a LOT less hair)
- June 3, 2020 – Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews Richard H. Stephens
- June 2, 2020 – Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews Mark O’Neill
- May 29, 2020 -Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews Alessandra Torre
- May 28, 2020 – Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews Dale L. Roberts
- May 27, 2020 – Canadian Authors & SF Canada Webinar Series: Leveraging Your IP and Maximizing Income in a Digital World (Virtual)
- May 27, 2020 – Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews Rachael Herron
- May 21, 2020 – Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews editor Joshua Essoe
- May 20, 2020 -Alliance of Independent Authors #IndieAuthorChat (Virtual)(Twitter) – Creating Income from Short Fiction
- May 20, 2020 – CHCH Morning Live (Short Clip) – Isolation Parodies
- May 19, 2020 – Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews T.W. Piperbrook
- May 18, 2020 – Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews Jeff Elkins
- May 16-17, 2020 – The Career Author Summit (Nashville, TN) – Modified to a virtual conference due to Covid-19
- May 15, 2020 – Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews Travis Heermann
- May 14, 2020 – CTV News Northern Ontario – Northern couple finds way to spread a bit of joy during isolation
- May 13, 2020 – Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews D2D insider Elyssa Dolinger
- May 12, 2020 – Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews Robert J. Sawyer
- May 11, 2020 – CTV News Ottawa – On The Bright Side
- May 8, 2020 – Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews Jeff Adams and Will Knauss
- May 6, 2020 – Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews Melissa Dalton Martinez
- May 5, 2020 – Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews Sacha Black
- May 1, 2020 -Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews Terry Odell
- April 20, 2020 -Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews Michael and Judith Anderle
- April 8, 2020 – 7:30 PM Eastern – Virtual Reading/Talk – via StageIt – Weird Fiction Wednesday. (COST: Pay What You Can)
- April 22, 2020 – CTV News Ottawa – On The Bright Side
- April 22, 2020 – 1 PM Eastern – Online Class – 1 Hour – hosted by Jane Friedman – Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction (Cost $20 USD)
- April 17, 2020 – Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews Jane Friedman
- April 15, 2020 – Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews Terry Fallis
- April 13, 2020 – Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews Kevin J. Anderson
- April 9, 2020 – Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews Zach Bohannon
- April 8, 2020 – Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews J. Thorn
- April 7, 2020 – Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews Dean Wesley Smith
- April 4, 2020 – Liberty States Fiction Writers Conference (Keynote) (Clark, NJ) – Postponed to Oct 2020 due to Covid-19
- April 3, 2020 – The Indy Author Podcast – Working with Libraries & Bookstores with Mark Lefebvre (Podcast Interview)
- April 3, 2020 – Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews Carolyn Robertson of BookBub
- April 1, 2020 – Draft2Digital Spotlight: Mark interviews Cory Alderin of BookBrush!
- March 30, 2020 – The Creative Penn Podcast – How to Get Your Book into Libraries and Bookstores with Mark Leslie Lefebvre (Podcast Interview)
- March 24, 2020 – The Rebel Author Podcast – How to Get Your Book into Libraries with Mark Lefebvre (Podcast Interview)
- March 19, 2020 – Draft2Digital Live: Ask us Anything. Mark, Kevin Tumlinson, and special guest Dave Chesson
- March 14, 2020 – Self-Publishing Advice Conference Spring 2020 (Virtual Conference-Content still available to Alli Members)
March 10, 11, 12, 2020 – London Book Fair (Industry Rep – Draft2Digital) (London, UK)– BOOK FAIR CANCELLED due to Covid-19
- Feb 29, 2020 – Talk with Grand River Romance Writers – Idea Exchange (Cambridge, ON)
- Feb 28, 2020 – Draft2Digital Live: Ask us Anything. Mark, Kevin Tumlinson, and Dan Wood
- Feb 21 – 26, 2020 – WMG Publishing Anthology Workshop (Editor) (Las Vegas, NV)
- Feb 8, 2020 – WordBridge Writing Conference (Virtual Appearance) (Lethridge, AB)
- Feb 6 – 8, 2020 – Superstars Writing Seminars (Confirmed Guest Instructor) (Colorado Springs, CO)
- Feb 4, 2020 – Book release: Taking the Short Tack:
Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction (co-authored with Matty Dalrymple) - Jan 23, 2020 -Draft2Digital Live: Jan 2020 (Mark with Kevin Tumlinson and Dan Wood)
- Jan 17, 2020 – Article / CTV News Northern Ontario – “Aliens and adventurers get their ‘geek’ on at Sudbury Graphic-Con” by Lloyd Evans
- Jan 6, 2020 – Productivity for Authors in 2020 (Webinar/Panel Discussion)
2019
- Dec 16, 2019 – D2D Live Webinar – Working with Libraries & Bookstores (Oklahoma City, OK)
- Dec 10, 2019 – Book Release: An Author’s Guide to Working with Bookstores and Libraries
- Dec 8, 9, 10, 2019 – CAPS Convention (Meet the Experts) (London, ON)
- Nov 28, 2019 –Sudbury Writers’ Guild (Sudbury, ON)
- Nov 27, 2019 -Draft2Digital Live: Ask us Anything (Mark with Kevin Tumlinson and Dan Wood)
- Nov 21, 2019 -Six Figure Authors Episode 13 – How to Successfully Sell Wide (Beyond Amazon) with Mark Lefebvre (Podcast)
- Nov 11 – 15, 2019 – 20Booksto50K (Industry Rep – Draft2Digital)(Las Vegas, NV)
- Nov 9, 2019 – Swirleez Speaker Series: “To Publish or Self-Publish and going Digital” – FREE to Attend! Part of a weekly series every Saturday in November – Facebook Event Page – (Barrie, ON)
- Nov 4, 2019 – Guest on Just Joshing Episode 306 with Joshua Pantalleresco (recorded at When Words Collide August 2019)
- October 25 – 30, 2019 – Business Master Class (Instructor)(Las Vegas, NV)
- October 17, 2019 – Draft2Digital Live: Ask us Anything Audiobook Edition. Mark, Kevin Tumlinson, and special guest Will Dages from Findaway Voices
- Oct 9, 2019 – Guest on The Book Break (Season 2, Episode 5) with Melissa Dalton (recorded at Superstars Writing Seminars Feb 2019)
- Sept 25 to 29, 2019 – Novelists, Inc (St Pete, FL)
- Sept 20, 2019 -Toronto Romance Writers / Northern Hearts
- Sept 20, 2019 – Draft2Digital Live: Ask us Anything. Mark, Kevin Tumlinson, and Tara Robinette
- Sept 13, 2019 – Bestival Reads, part of Belmont Village Bestival (Kitchener, ON)
- Sept 3, 2019 – Draft2Digital Live: From Oklahoma City, D2D’s Office: Mark, with Kevin Tumlinson and Dan Wood
- Aug 17, 2019 – Millpond Records and Books (Cambridge, ON) – Book signing
- Aug 16, 2019 – In Studio with Kevin on CKWR 985 FM in Kitchener, ON
- Aug 15, 2019 – Guest on Episode 187 of The Self Publishing Show (with Mark Dawson and James Blatch) – The 7 P’s of Publishing Success
- Aug 9, 10, 11, 2019 – When Words Collide (Calgary, AB)
- July 30, 2019 – Draft2Digital Live: Ask us Anything. Mark with Kevin Tumlinson and Dan Wood
- July 2, 2019 – Draft2Digital Live: Ask us Anything – Premier Video in the series. Mark with Kevin Tumlinson and Dan Wood
- July 1, 2019 – Guest on Episode 27 of the Am Writing Fantasy Podcast: How to Sell Books on Kobo
- June 29, 2019 – The Book Express (Multi-Author Book Signing) (Cambridge, ON)
- June 8, 2019 – Graphic-Con (Sudbury, ON)
- May 29, 30, 31, 2019 – BEA (Book Expo America) – (New York, NY)
- May 1 & 2, 2019 – Rock Apocalypse (Cleveland, OH)
- April 22, 2019 -Guest on the Phantom Faction Podcast Episode 38 talking about Haunted Hospitals and other haunted locations from various books.
- Apr 4, 2019 – Guest on the Books and Travel Podcast Episode 6 with host Jo Francis Penn talking about Macabre Montreal
- Mar 1 to Mar 6, 2019 – WMG Publishing Fiction River Anthology Workshop (Editor/Panelist) (Las Vegas, NV)
- March 16, 2019 – Self-Publishing Advice Conference (VIRTUAL – Free to register): “Reaching Readers Both Wide & Global” (Interview Style)
- Feb 7 to 9, 2019 – Superstars Writing Seminars – (Colorado Springs, CO)
- Dec 10, 2018 – CAPS Convention 2018 – Successfully Navigating Your Publishing Goals (Vancouver, British Columbia) – See Video About this talk (For CAPS Convention attendees only)
- Dec 5, 2018 – Kobo Publishing: Get Your Book Featured (Reedsy Webinar)
- Nov 6 & 7 – 20BooksVegas via 20Booksto50K – (Las Vegas, NV)
- Nov 1 – ImagineIT: Success in Publishing. Workshop/Panel Discussion on Publishing Options (Kitchener Public Library) – [LIBRARY CANCELLED THIS EVENT]
- Oct 29 – SFU Writer’s Studio – Lecture. (Private lecture for SFU Creative Writing Class)
- Oct 19 thru 27 – WMG Publishing Master Class (Instructor/Presenter/Speaker) (Las Vegas, NV)
- Oct 13 & Oct 14 – Hamilton Comic Con (Mark Leslie/Stark Publishing Author Table)
- Oct 5 to 7 – Montreal – Various Venues for launch of Macabre Montreal
- Fri Oct 5 – Chapters Pointe Claire (Signing / Book Launch)
- Sun Oct 7 – Indigo Place Montreal Trust (Book Signing and Mini Ghost Walk)
- Sept 26 through 30 – NINC Conference (St. Petes, FL)
- Sept 14, 2018 – 7:00 PM – Talk and Q&A Hamilton Ghost Stories at Supercrawl
- Summer 2018: Ainsley Woods Community Market – Author/Vendor Table – Grain & Grit Beer Co. (Hamilton, ON) – July 7 / July 21 / July 28
- August 10 through 12 – When Word Collide: A Festival for Readers and Writers (Various)
- August 2 – Capreol Centennial Book Launch (Matthew Del Papa) – Appearing as special guest
- May 31 –Guest on Cashing in on Creativity Podcast with host Bruce Outridge
- May 12 – SFU Writer’s Studio – Lecture. (Private lecture for SFU Creative Writing Class)
- April 4, 2018 – Guest on Patricia McLinn’s AUTHORS LOVE READERS Podcast – Finding Inspiration in Everything, with Mark Leslie
- March 27, 2018 New Directions in Self-Publishing (Talk/Panel) hosted by Editors Toronto and the Toronto chapter of the Professional Writers Association of Canada (PWAC) – [FREE for PWAC and Editors Canada members. Otherwise Otherwise, Tickets are $5 for students, $10 for non-members registering online, $15 at the door. See link above for details
- March 19, 2018 – It’s Write Now Interview: Author Interview with Mark Leslie of ‘A Canadian Werewolf in New York’
- Feb 24 through March 3, 2018 – WMG Publishing Fiction River Anthology Workshop (Lincoln City, OR) – (Relatively recent blog post mentioning this)
- February 16, 2018 – Guest on Episode 125 of The Creators Cast Podcast with Scott King
- February 13, 2018 – 7:00 to 8:30 PM – Talk at Toronto Public Library, Toronto Reference Library, Beeton Hall (Toronto, ON, Canada) in the “Thought Exchange” series on Haunted Hospitals.
- February 1 to 3, 2018 2018 – Guest Instructor at Superstars Writing Seminars (Colorado Springs, CO, USA)
- December 19, 2017 – “Transition Time Can Be Fun” – The Inner Dominatrix Podcast Episode 77
- December 6, 2017 – “Life After Kobo” – Interview on The Self Publishing Podcast Episode 292
- November 19, 2017 – “Interview – Author Mark Leslie” – We Got The Geek Podcast
CHCH Morning Live Appearance Talking About Haunted Hospitals – Oct 2017
- Sept 6, 2016 – “Mark Leslie, Author of Haunted Hospitals” – Deviatus Podcast – Episode 9
- April 20, 2017 – “Kobo Writing Life & International Book Sales with Mark Lefebvre” – The Publishing Profits Podcast Show – Episode 133
- March 28, 2017 – “Kobo’s New Subscription Service and the State of the Industry with Mark Lefebvre” – Science Fiction & Fantasy Marketing Podcast – Episode 125
- July 7, 2017 – “Canada’s Creepy Capital – with Mark Leslie” – Mysterious Radio
- December 19, 2016 – “Seven Years and 300 Episodes. Creative Lessons Learned from Podcasting Since 2009” – The Creative Penn Podcast – Episode 300
- April 17, 2016 – “Tomes of Terror” – Paratruth Radio (YouTube Video Link)
- April 15, 2016 – “Life from the London Book Fair 2016 – Part 1” – The Self Publishing Formula Podcast – Episode 7
- March 26, 2016 – “Global Self-Publishing And How To Sell More Books On Kobo With Mark Lefebvre” – The Creative Penn Podcast – Episode 262
- March 20, 2015 – Coast to Coast AM with George Noory – Haunted Bookstores & Libraries
OLDER MEDIA LINKS/APPEARANCES
A Super Brief History of Publishing. Clip from a keynote given at Writers of the Future in Los Angeles, 2014 (Approx 2 mins)
Reflections on Digital Publishing – Interview Clips from Ontario Writers Conference (2013) -(Approx 4 mins)
“Getting Publishing with Mark Leslie” – (The Writing Show Podcast)
11 Episodes from Oct 9, 2006 to June 3, 2010 – Following the progress of the early part of the first draft of A CANADIAN WEREWOLF IN NEW YORK
http://www.writingshow.com/articles/reality_shows/indexes/seriesindexML.html
This is an excellent series to listen to if you are a writer who has been struggling to get that first book finished. It might help you see that you’re not the only one who has suffered and struggled. It’s tough and it’s a lot of work, and sometimes it takes a lot of effort to overcome the things that prevent you from finishing that book. (And you can see, in the 4+ years that these episodes span, I found virtually every excuse in the book)