Miami Author Jonathan Welsh weaves Little Havana’s spirit into debut story collection, Tides Between the Shores
Miami Beach resident, writer, and local LGBTQ leader Jonathan Welsh has just released his debut short story collection, Tides Between Shores. The book is now available in both print and digital formats through major booksellers.
But fun fact: Jonathan isn’t new to storytelling. He’s a communications professional with deep ties to Miami’s cultural scene. A graduate of both the University of Miami and Barry University, he’s spent over two decades immersed in the coastal and cultural life of South Florida. But while Miami is his home, his stories also reach northward, keeping the connection to New England alive in his work.
With Tides Between Shores, Jonathan offers a rich, layered collection of stories that explore themes of movement, identity, and belonging. His settings cover centuries and coastlines, yet all share one thing: the characters are going through their own paths trying to find where they fit in the world and what home really means.
Little Havana’s heart beats in The Muse of Madaket
One of the collection’s most powerful stories, The Muse of Madaket, takes us inside the life of Rafael, a Cuban-American artist whose memories of Little Havana become his salvation.
Rafael is far from Miami, grieving the loss of friends during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s. However, it’s the neighborhood’s vivid sights, rhythms, and scents, such as the murals on Calle Ocho, his abuela’s kitchen, and the music spilling from open doorways, that give him the courage to create again.
Jonathan says Rafael’s character was inspired by artists and advocates who have been shaped by Little Havana’s resilience. “His return to art mirrors a return to his roots,” Jonathan explains. “Even from afar, his culture and memories keep him anchored.”
Jonathan Welchs’ stories across time and tide
The collection features more stories outside of Miami, including:
- The Quiet Tide follows two 19th-century sailors in a forbidden romance, their love fashioned by memories of Key West and the shadow of Caribbean piracy.
- The Lantern’s Glow transports readers to a 1920s Cape Florida lighthouse, where its keeper faces a choice between safety and duty during the Great Miami Hurricane.
- Tracing Roots introduces a Coral Gables man who uncovers family secrets in Nantucket, finding parallels to his own life and identity.
- Tides of Longing tells of a Fort Lauderdale writer who falls unexpectedly for a local man in Nantucket, which leads to the discovery of the power of stillness and vulnerability.
Centering queer history
LGBTQ+ themes run throughout Tides Between Shores; however, according to Jonathan, these aren’t side notes or tragedies but a central part of the stories.
From Julius and Thomas in the 1800s to Rafael in the 1980s and Sebastian in the present day, queer characters in his work live authentically, in defiance of societal norms. Jonathan says, “Queer history is often hidden or erased in historical fiction. I wanted these characters to take center stage, not only to show struggle, but also to portray beauty, romance, and resilience.”
A neighborhood with layers of history
Today, most people think of Little Havana as a hub of Cuban culture, but its history is even richer. Before the Cuban diaspora transformed it, the neighborhood was home to Irish, Jewish, and Italian immigrant families in the early 20th century. They established small businesses, built homes, and laid the foundation for what would become one of Miami’s most vibrant cultural centers.
Jonathan finds this layered past fascinating and draws on it in stories like Tracing Roots. “Migration isn’t just one moment, it’s a continuum,” he says. “Places hold the memories and dreams of many generations. Neighborhoods like Little Havana are living archives of American history.”
A love letter to coastal people
Jonathan hopes readers, especially those from Little Havana, see their stories reflected in Tides Between Shores.
“Even when my characters are far from home, their roots still nourish them,” he says. “This book is a love letter to coastal people, to migrants, to artists, and to communities like Little Havana, where the past and present live side by side”. - Jonathan Welsh
What’s next?
While his next book will explore the 1930s in Lake Tahoe, Miami will always remain a part of Jonathan Welsh’s creative world.
“Whether it’s through quiet references or as the central setting, I’ll keep coming back to it”. - Jonathan Welsh
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