The Heat Wave Chronicles contains six short stories, all based in the mythical town of Heat Wave, Alabama, on the also mythical island of Snake Bite Key.

"Take Another Road", "Off to See the Lizard", "Boomerang Love", "The Swamp Creature Let One In", "The Pascagoula Run", and "I Wish Lunch Could Last Forever" comprise the Heat Wave Chronicles.

Five of these short stories are also song titles on Buffett's Off to See the Lizard album.

Tales from Margaritaville sold over 120,000 copies and made its way onto the New York Times Best Seller list, where it stayed for seven months.

[1][2] Kirkus Reviews described the collection as "mainly good-natured paeans to sailing, hedonism, and memorable acquaintances.