A Different Hurricane

Two gay men with a lifetime of secrets face their insular, homophobic island’s rancour.

Growing up in neighbouring villages on the tiny island nation of St Vincent, teenage best friends Gordon and Allen are secret lovers until they are forced apart their community’s traditional expectations and their fear of how others will react. They each complete their university studies abroad, encountering worlds where there is less hostility toward LGBTQ+ people. Tempted to stay, both men ultimately return home, hiding who they are.

Their secret lives come at the expense of others, and Gordon’s wife, Maureen, is the first to be irreparably harmed. She has confided her secrets to an accusatory journal, and it is now up to Gordon to keep it from the local media and the unforgiving eyes of the authorities. If the truth is revealed, he and Allan will be the next victims.

H. Nigel Thomas is a Vincentian-Canadian who lives in the Montreal suburb of Greenfield Park. He is the author of thirteen books, comprising fiction, poetry, and literary criticism. He is the recipient of many awards, including the 2022 Canada Council for the Arts Molson Prize.