Driftwood: Stories from the Margarita Road

"...somewhere betweeen Jimmy Buffett and John Steinbeck, Driftwood hums with hardscrabble characters washed up on a Mexican beach..." ~Joel Selvin-bestselling author, award-winning journalist

🌟 WINNER "BILL FISHER AWARD FOR BEST FIRST BOOK: FICTION" ~ 2022 IBPA BENJAMIN FRANKLIN AWARDS
🌟 WINNER "BEST FIRST BOOK" ~ 2021 INDIEREADER DISCOVERY AWARDS
🌟 ONE OF THE "BEST BOOKS OF 2020" ~ KIRKUS REVIEWS

In Driftwood: Stories from the Margarita Road , free-spirited Americans fleeing mundane and disappointing lives head south to Playa Paraiso—a lush, unspoiled beach town on Mexico’s idyllic Caribbean coast.

Poppa, the savvy, irreverent owner of the local beach bar, is always willing to lend an ear and a helping hand to his fellow expats. He tells their stories of life in paradise, as together they deal with love and loss, vicious drug dealers, charming rogues, encroaching civilization, and a devastating hurricane.

Reviewers say Driftwood mixes the excitement of Joseph Conrad, and the flip-flop escapism of Jimmy Buffett —all set against a backdrop of stunning blue water and endless white sand.

Author Anthony Lee Head lived the expat life for ten years. In a fit of middle-aged madness, he traded a long career as a San Francisco trial lawyer for an unknown adventure in a foreign land. He and his wife bought a rundown hostel a few blocks from the beach in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, which they transformed into a wildly popular hotel and bar. The characters they met there became the inspiration for Driftwood: Stories from the Margarita Road .

Travelers, wanderers, explorers, and dreamers alike will see themselves in these unforgettable tales, all the while craving an icy boat drink on a sprawling beach. But be careful: if you stick your feet in the sand and come along on this journey, you may not want to go home again.
"Truly wonderful and moving tales; the author is a writer to watch." ~ Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"...a deep, empathic humanity affords each character and event vivid authenticity." ~ Peter Coyote, bestselling author and actor

"What often starts as simply an entertaining tale ends with a message that resonates deeply. I hated for it to end. Grab a drink and a beach chair and settle in for an excellent escape." ~ Betsy Andrews, Amazon reviewer

"An inspirational collection of interconnected short stories. Opening with moving vignettes, each powerfully conveys wanderlust, freedom, the search for paradise, and something more. With an exceptional writing style, Head brings the Mexican Caribbean beachside to life in beautifully crafted, heart-lifting tales" ~ IndieReader