Peter McConnell was born in Echuca. His father was a station master in the Victorian Railways and he has lived in various country towns including Hopetoun, Orbost, Yea, Yarrawonga and Bairnsdale.
A History and Political Science graduate from the University of Melbourne he has worked as a teacher, factory worker and for ten years as a night shift worker at Australia Post. He currently works part time for Green Collect.
He has been writing since the age of 16 and has completed 10 manuscripts (primarily novels, but also collections of stories, poetry and essays). His poetry has been published in journals and newspapers including Westerly, The Age, The Australian, The Bulletin, Kunapipi and Overland.
His short stories have appeared in Quadrant, Australian Short Stories, Mattoid, Herald Sun and Tabloid Story. Awards include Marcus Clarke Award (City of Springvale), Ballarat Begonia Festival Awards, Judah Waten Short Story Award and John Shaw Nielsen Award.