First published 2018
Robert P. Jones opens his heart through tales rooted in America's oldest city. St. Augustine carries centuries of Minorcan heritage, stretching back to when Spain planted the first permanent settlement on American soil. Jones draws from his own experiences in this unique Florida community, where Minorcan traditions blend with modern life. His wife Malinda Usina Jones anchors these narratives with her steady presence and devotion. Each story captures moments both ordinary and meaningful, seasoned with the warmth of authentic relationships. The collection moves between past and present, showing how love sustains a community across generations. Jones writes with the familiarity of someone who knows these streets, these families, these customs from the inside. The emotional heart beats strongest in his portrait of marriage and belonging, where personal joy mingles with cultural pride like datil pepper stirred into homemade gumbo.
Genres: family-life, american, 21st-century, americana, food-writing
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, personal-journey
Setting: America, Florida, St. Augustine
Period: 21st-century
186 pages · Paperback · Outskirts Press