Douglas Shire author JB Thomas has given some key insights into his new book during an enlightening workshop at Mossman Library.

The independently published Heart Full of Storm is set in Port Douglas and is inspired by some of the dramatic landscapes and characters in the greater Far North Queensland region.

”About two years ago my partner and I, we were in Cooktown on top of Grassy Hill, and as we were walking away along the viewing platform, out of the way down the trail hidden by some trees, was this cute little wooden picnic table overlooking the bay, and that’s just where one of the chapters sets the scene,” Thomas says.

“It’s the first chapter I wrote of the book, so you will know when that happens.

“That’s what inspired the story.

“The characters were right there - I could see the truck, I could see the blanket, the sky was dark, a little bit of thunder, you could just see the stars as the storm was moving in.”

His third book, Heart Full of Storm is about a teenager who arrives in Port Douglas and meets a fortune teller in the market, but soon wakes up in hospital not quite knowing what is going on.

The book is full of “paranormal romance”, twists, turns and intrigue, all set in “sultry Port Douglas”.

“The ending was a lot of fun, I had so much fun with that,” Thomas says.

Those in the know who have read his previous books know Thomas can take the reader on a journey, with some expressing frustration about the rollercoaster ride the endings sometimes take.

Although he does not want to give away too much, one of the themes of the book is “relationships are dangerous.”