Peter Hobbs

Peter Hobbs has been a First Story Writer-in-Residence since its beginning.

He is the author of two novels, The Short Day Dying (Faber & Faber) and In The Orchard, The Swallows (Faber & Faber). The Short Day Dying was shortlisted for the Whitbread First Novel Award, the John Llewellyn Rhys Prize and won a Betty Trask Prize. It was also shortlisted for the 2007 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award.

In 2006, he also published a collection of stories, I Could Ride All Day In My Cool Blue Train (Faber & Faber).

I’ve been lucky enough to work with First Story since their inception in 2008, working at four different schools across London (mostly at Wembley High Technology College). I’ve loved every minute of it. I think the common conception of the work of First Story – writers going into schools to inspire students – has it backwards. We go in, give the students the space and time to experiment, and to find their voices and tell their stories, and then they produce the most amazing work. They’re smart, fun, entertaining and endlessly inspiring. It’s a huge privilege to work with them.

Peter Hobbs