Category Archives: Uncategorized

Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing Grammy Award winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, guitarist supreme, Jorma Kaukonen, for the August edition of the Finnish American Reporter. Here’s the interview. Mark Munger: Kiitos, Jorma, for agreeing to do … Continue reading →

Yes, I am a retired judge. Yes, from time to time in my role hearing matters in Minnesota District Court, constitutional issues arose that required me to research and apply principles of law handed down to us by the Founders … Continue reading →

INTERVIEW WITH SARA PAJUNEN Mark:  I’d like to start by asking a bit about your connection to Finnish heritage. Where were you born and where did you grow up? What are your ancestral links to Finnishness? Sara: My grandfather was … Continue reading →

It started with a text. Patrick “Poncho” Scott texted me sometime after out annual Whiteface Fishing Opener, an event the Munger and Scott families have shared for more than fifty years. The gist of the message was “We should do … Continue reading →

The title of this essay references my infatuation with the David Gutterson novel, East of the Mountains, and actor Tom Skeritt’s portrayal of Gutterson’s protagonist in the film version of the story. In essence, Ben Givens (Skeritt’s character) finds out … Continue reading →

Kirkus provided me with a fine review of the new book. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/mark-munger/duck-and-cover-4/ Peace Mark

  Last week we debuted our new Newsletter Feature – 5 QUESTIONS! This week we’re profiling local author Mark Munger, whose new book Duck and Cover: Things I Learned Waiting for the Bomb (A Memoir) is on sale now.   1) How do you … Continue reading →

Mark Munger is a non-Finn with an interest in Finnish Americans. MM: What’s your ethnic and personal connection to the Finnish American story? JR: I’m Finnish on both sides. My Mom’s line is from the Kuortane area. My Dad’s line … Continue reading →

Someone handed me this book, signed by the author, at my retirement party back in January of 2019. Not particularly interested in reading what looked to be a self-published or vanity published religious novel, I placed it on my “to … Continue reading →

Here is the thing. One can be an accomplished writer of nonfiction prose, possess a Masters in Nonfiction Writing from a prestigious American University (Sarah Lawrence), have engaging historical events and characters to build upon, and still not be a … Continue reading →