Bob Arnebeck was born in Washington in 1947 and graduated Beloit College in 1969. In 1987 he was a commentator on NPR's Morning Edition. He wrote "Proust's Last Beer: A History of Curious Demises" (Penguin Books, 1981) and "Through a Fiery Trail: Building Washington 1790, 1800" (Madison Books, 1991). In 1994 he moved to Wellesley Island in the St. Lawrence River.