H. Nigel Thomas’ latest novel, A Different Hurricane, is set on the lush Caribbean island country of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It’s about two young men who become secret lovers until society forces them apart — and it draws on Nigel’s own experiences as a gay man who left Saint Vincent for Montreal when he was just 21.

If you enjoyed this conversation, check out these episodes:

• Aysegul Savas: Finding home in foreignness and capturing the uncertainty of early adulthood
• Eric Chacour: Exploring the power of familial expectations and forbidden love