In “Tides Between Shores,” debut author Jonathan Welsh connects the windswept shores of Nantucket with the sun-soaked streets of South Beach, through tender time-traveling tales of love and identity.

“I had to get out of my mindset — not every character could sound like a South Beach queen,” Welsh joked. “Especially the sailors. That was fun, getting into character mode … what they would say if they were in this particular bar or at sea.”

Welsh’s foray into method writing produced a collection of short stories set in two places dear to the author’s heart — Nantucket, Massachusetts and South Florida.

“I have a good lay of the land,” Welsh told OutSFL in a telephone interview. “I’ve been going to Nantucket every other summer since high school. I know Miami well. I like history … walking around Española Way and Lincoln Road, I feel the same kind of spirit when I’m walking down Broad Street in Nantucket.”

While sharing an ocean coastline, the two destinations are vastly different in climate and vibe, and Welsh vividly captures those features in his book. Nantucket’s gray skies and windswept dunes contrasting Miami’s bright lights and multicultural neighborhoods.

Through 376 pages, Welsh offers stories centered on hope and love from different time periods. Two men rediscover their passions amid the carnage of the 1980s AIDS epidemic; a lighthouse keeper in Key Biscayne finds purpose during the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926 and a hidden 18th century romance between sailors isolated at sea.

“A lot of these characters follow the heart and make bold changes,” Welsh said. “Sometimes you have to lean into things and see where the tide takes you. Follow your heart and take a leap of faith.”

Welsh has done that before — serving in South Africa for the Peace Corps and running for city commissioner in Miami Beach. The 44-year-old is now the Director of Marketing and Communications for Care Resource, a nonprofit health center that improves upon the health and overall quality of life for South Floridians in need.

His writing style, Welsh said, is deeply inspired by English author Graham Greene.

“His reflective tone and atmospheric writing shaped how I approached this book,” Welsh said.

“He writes an interesting story, but in the process you learn things about the Vatican, museums and different pieces of art,” Welsh said. “He’s educating his readers, while entertaining his readers. They are not mutually exclusive, you can do both.”

“Tides Between Shores” is available on Amazon in paperback ($19.99) and Kindle ($9.99).