Story inspired by summer job shortlisted for award

Writer Edward Hogan grew up in the village of Little Eaton

A writer from Derby has been shortlisted for a prestigious accolade for a story inspired by a summer he spent working at parks in the city.

Little Green Man, written by Edward Hogan, is a fictional story focusing on the bond between two staff members on a day maintaining parks and gardens together.

It focuses on two characters from different generations and backgrounds - a heartbroken woman named Carrie and teenage dad Ryan.

It is in the running for the 2025 BBC National Short Story Award, which counts novelists Zadie Smith and Hilary Mantel among previous nominees.

Loved park work

Mr Hogan, formerly of Little Eaton, now lives in Brighton with his family, but said Derbyshire will "always have a hold of him".

"I am extremely proud of being born and growing up in Derby and I think about it all the time," he said.

"I spent one summer working for Derby City Council's parks and gardens [department] and it was one of those formative jobs that you do in your early 20s that really stays with you and introduces you to the world of work.

"I loved that job and really enjoyed working with the people and realised how incredibly hard they work."

Mr Hogan, 45, has credited BBC Radio Derby with his first break after finishing runner-up in a writing competition run by the station.

Since then, he has written other stories including Little Green Man, with his novel Blackmoor set in Derbyshire during the Miner's Strike.

The awards are run in conjunction with Cambridge University and the winner will be announced on September 30.

Dr Bonnie Lander Johnson, fellow, lecturer and director of studies at Cambridge University, said: "It is wonderful to see how the finalists of each year have succeeded in articulating the individual and collective concerns of two generations. Long may it last.