Bob Welch was a longtime columnist for The (Eugene, Ore.) Register-Guard, where his essays twice were recognized as the country's best by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. He is the author of more than 20 books, including the Oregon Book Award-finalist "American Nightingale," which was featured on ABC's "Good Morning America." Welch is the founder/director of the Beachside Writers Workshop in Yachats, Ore., an inspirational speaker and a former adjunct professor of journalism at the University of Oregon. He lives in Eugene with his wife Sally.