Report, writer and editor
Class of 2003
English Literature
If you studied your undergraduate programme at York St John University or founder colleges, did you go on to postgraduate study?
Yes, somewhere else.
Why have you chosen this photo as your YSJ snapshot?
The photo of me taken in front of the bridge over the gorge at Ronda is from my travels in researching my books (I’m working on a book proposal now for one about Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles, both of whom had numerous links with Ronda). Given that some of my work so far as been described as ‘pure Hemingway’, I think the photo fits. Also, I like the picture.
The other three are professional ones taken for me a few years ago for a project on writers.
What are your fondest memories of York St John University?
Man, I miss being that young!
The thing I remember most fondly about York and York St. John is that is here most of my ‘firsts’ came about: first girlfriend, first time away from home, first time eating cold pizza for breakfast. Unfortunately, these are things I couldn’t take with me, but what I have retained over the years has been my love for certain writers – Christopher Isherwood, Raymond Carver, Tim O’Brien, who books I still have.
Why did you choose York St John University or founder colleges?
I chose York St. John because I thought it was in a wonderful, beautiful city. I originally applied to study Film, Theatre, and Television, but gave up on my ideas of being a director and embraced becoming a writer. I decided late to go to university and applied to YSJ because I had such fond memories of the day I spent on the open day there.
What have you been doing since completing your studies?
I left York St. John and spent a year working in York, before doing post-graduate studies at the University of Sheffield. I left academia at that point and drifted, ending up teaching in Japan, before becoming a professional reporter in 2007. Since then, I’ve worked for numerous magazines and newspapers around the world. I eventually came to live in Berlin in 2010, where I still write today. At the moment, I’ve just signed a book deal with Biteback Publishing and I’m writing a non-fiction sports book, due to be out at the beginning of 2024.
What one piece of advice would you give to a current student, or one about to graduate?
The writer Ralph Wiley once wrote, “Progress is to be desired merely because it is progress. Men who stand still are lost.” I can think of no better advice after that.
Read more about Pete’s career on the Alumni blog.