Walk into this man’s office, and you see right away that this is a professor who likes books fiercely. Books spill from bookshelves, overly full with his favorite works. Mark Vinz has played a major role in the promotion of this region’s literature, according to Paul Harris, a history professor at Minnesota State University Moorhead. Harris produced a profile on Vinz in 2000 for the MSUM College of Arts and Humanities newsletter “Reflections,” recounting Vinz’s history in this area as a writer, publisher, editor, and teacher.
     Mark Vinz was born in Rugby, N.D., grew up in Minneapolis and the Kansas City area, and attended the universities of Kansas and New Mexico. It wasn’t until he was attending these, that he began to write creatively, thinking of himself as a literary scholar more than a writer, according to Harris. Vinz assumed a teaching position at Moorhead State College in 1968, where he met his mentor Thomas McGrath. After many encouraging critiques, Vinz found his own voice. Vinz describes their relationship as, “the beginning of my education not just as a writer, but as a teacher of writing.” Although McGrath is now gone, Vinz still considers McGrath to be his mentor and one of his favorite poets.
     Vinz soon found himself a publisher in 1969, when he published a work called “The Fat Giraffe.” In the next few years, Vinz widened his horizons, publishing the poetry journal Dacotah Territory and the Dacotah Territory Press in 1971. When students demanded an outlet for their own literary works, Vinz decided to publish a student magazine, now known as Red Weather. This magazine is published each year with much help from other professors and students. Vinz is also joined in establishing the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program, and has served as a co-director of the Tom McGrath Visiting Writers’ Series since its beginning in 1986.
     After teaching at the university for 34 years, Vinz justifies his stay here. It’s “something I like, and they pay me,” he says. Although humble about his writing, readers can’t help but notice the many stories and poems he has written concerning this area, particularly the lakes area. In the book “Minnesota Gothic,” by Vinz and Wayne Gudmundson, a entire section was dedicated to the sport of fishing. The poem, “Getting Away from It All” sticks out, explaining what every wife dreads each year if there is a fisherman in her home: