OasisCloud Café

In 2011 we were transitioning from one phase of our life to the next. Duane knew of the large house in Chapala that was available for rent and had an inspiration to open a café there. Mimi was taken by surprise by that, but went along with the idea, and from January 2011 through August we remodeled the house and opened OasisCloud Café August 22, 2011.

We had many fun and memorable experiences over the next three years. We made many friends during this very special time. Late in 2011 Jim Tipton came to us with an idea. Many from the writer community here had started hanging out at OasisCloud and Jim proposed that we start hosting "Meet the Writer Luncheons" to give the writers a venue to promote their work.

We hosted the first "Meet the Writer Luncheon" January 31, 2012 at OasisCloud Café and the last one was on Jan. 21, 2015. We hosted 42 luncheons in that three-year period and had many memorable moments in the process. We remember the luncheons and other OasisCloud highlights here.

James Tipton

Mel Goldberg & Rob Mohr

Catch a Killer, Save the World & Rob's poetry
Feb. 19, 2014

Mel Goldberg's poetry and short stories have appeared on line and in print in The United Kingdom, The United States, Mexico, New Zealand, and Australia. Mel will be reading from his new novel Catch a Killer, Save the World.

More

Robert Drynan

Mirage of El Dorado
Jan. 29, 2014

Robert Bruce Drynan will read excerpts from the title story of his newest book, Mirage of El Dorado and will follow with a short fiction. The readings will be in English.

The title of the book serves also for two other volumes he is currently releasing, one in Spanish translation and the second in a paragraph English followed by its translation into Spanish. The latter book is intended for use by advanced Spanish speakers who wish to broaden their knowledge of English or visa-versa, English speakers who wish to expand their understanding of Spanish.

More

OasisCloud Café Closing

Jan. 1, 2014

We regret to announce that we have decided not to re-open OasisCloud Café because of the new tax laws that went into effect in Mexico on Jan. 1, 2014.  It will be complicated and costly for us to comply with these laws.

The hardest part of this decision for us is that we will not be seeing you, our wonderful customers from the past 2 ½ years, on a regular basis.  We will, however, continue the “Meet the Writer Luncheons” or other similar luncheons for those who are interested in our hosting a presentation at our home here. Please contact us at this email address or call 765-3516 if you would like to schedule a luncheon or some other special event.

More

Sunny Vogler

DEMENTIA - the Love the Loss the Laughter
Dec. 4, 2013

Someone once said, "The mind with dementia is like a room full of lights. One by one the lights blow out. Each burned out light can never be re-lit and when the room is dark. . . you die."

This is the story about a daughter and her mother. The mother diagnosed with accelerated dementia. They knew she was going to die. The daughter wished to make her mother's last years worth living. What would you do?

More

Patricia Hemingway & Zofia Barisas

Nov. 20, 2013

Come join Zofia Barisas and Patricia Hemingway for a shared reading of new, unpublished work!

In the past year, both writers have published a book of short stories: The Woman Who Thought She Loved Men, by Zofia, and The One Who Got Away, by Patricia.

More

Rob Mohr

Shadow Love
Nov. 6, 2013

Shadow Love is a book of love.  The challenges created by human beings in love are the central motivation for most of the poems in Shadow Love. My point of departure, even though the poems consider the bliss and pain that come to those who love, was the healing balm of love. 

More

Who Rescued Who2?

With Barbara Harkness & Valerie Siegel
Oct. 23, 2013

Canadian business woman, Barbara Harkness, and American attorney, Valerie Siegel, have again pooled their mutual love of Lakeside’s many street dogs. The result is a charming collection of new stories in Who Rescued Who2: MORE Tales of Street Dogs and the People Who Love Them. Continuing to be moved by the numerous local efforts to care for these dogs, the authors have chosen to support two more local charities which provide free spay and neuter services to low income families, and education of local school children in the humane treatment of all living things.

More

John Dodds

A Poet's Journey
Oct. 9, 2013

As a new full time resident on the Ajijic Literary landscape John will be sharing his body of work that spans over 40 years and seven published volumes of poetry including two children’s poetic narratives. Born in the U.S. and raised in Ontario, Canada, at 17 he joined the American Air Force, graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso and has had one foot in both countries during a long varied career as a teacher, administrator and entrepreneurial pilgrim.  

More

Janice Kimball

Three in a Cage
Sept. 25, 2013

anice, a recognized artist and writer, owns Aztec Art and Weaving Studios in Ajijic, Mexico where she lives with Max Bird and weaving maestro, Francisco Urzua. Her column, ART TALK , articles and short stories appear in Mexico's English language publications and on-line magazines.

Max, a talking parrot with clipped wings, is a deft observer of the human condition. Because of their histories, Jani and Francisco cannot fly either. The three of them unlock their past denials of past injustice and it sets them free, as zany characters come and go from their weaving studios in Ajijic.   

More

Robert Drynan

El Mirage de El Dorado
Aug. 14, 2013

Robert Drynan and Jim Tipton will introduce two of Drynan’s previously unpublished short stories that will soon appear in a volume entitled “El Mirage de El Dorado”. These stories are about the human verities, love, war, suffering, compassion, and redemption, and they will touch your heart.

More

Mel Goldberg & Rob Mohr

Catch a Killer, Save the World & Rob's poetry
Feb. 19, 2014

Mel Goldberg's poetry and short stories have appeared on line and in print in The United Kingdom, The United States, Mexico, New Zealand, and Australia. Mel will be reading from his new novel Catch a Killer, Save the World.

More

Robert Drynan

Mirage of El Dorado
Jan. 29, 2014

Robert Bruce Drynan will read excerpts from the title story of his newest book, Mirage of El Dorado and will follow with a short fiction. The readings will be in English.

The title of the book serves also for two other volumes he is currently releasing, one in Spanish translation and the second in a paragraph English followed by its translation into Spanish. The latter book is intended for use by advanced Spanish speakers who wish to broaden their knowledge of English or visa-versa, English speakers who wish to expand their understanding of Spanish.

More

OasisCloud Café Closing

Jan. 1, 2014

We regret to announce that we have decided not to re-open OasisCloud Café because of the new tax laws that went into effect in Mexico on Jan. 1, 2014.  It will be complicated and costly for us to comply with these laws.

The hardest part of this decision for us is that we will not be seeing you, our wonderful customers from the past 2 ½ years, on a regular basis.  We will, however, continue the “Meet the Writer Luncheons” or other similar luncheons for those who are interested in our hosting a presentation at our home here. Please contact us at this email address or call 765-3516 if you would like to schedule a luncheon or some other special event.

More

Sunny Vogler

DEMENTIA - the Love the Loss the Laughter
Dec. 4, 2013

Someone once said, "The mind with dementia is like a room full of lights. One by one the lights blow out. Each burned out light can never be re-lit and when the room is dark. . . you die."

This is the story about a daughter and her mother. The mother diagnosed with accelerated dementia. They knew she was going to die. The daughter wished to make her mother's last years worth living. What would you do?

More

Patricia Hemingway & Zofia Barisas

Nov. 20, 2013

Come join Zofia Barisas and Patricia Hemingway for a shared reading of new, unpublished work!

In the past year, both writers have published a book of short stories: The Woman Who Thought She Loved Men, by Zofia, and The One Who Got Away, by Patricia.

More

Rob Mohr

Shadow Love
Nov. 6, 2013

Shadow Love is a book of love.  The challenges created by human beings in love are the central motivation for most of the poems in Shadow Love. My point of departure, even though the poems consider the bliss and pain that come to those who love, was the healing balm of love. 

More

Who Rescued Who2?

With Barbara Harkness & Valerie Siegel
Oct. 23, 2013

Canadian business woman, Barbara Harkness, and American attorney, Valerie Siegel, have again pooled their mutual love of Lakeside’s many street dogs. The result is a charming collection of new stories in Who Rescued Who2: MORE Tales of Street Dogs and the People Who Love Them. Continuing to be moved by the numerous local efforts to care for these dogs, the authors have chosen to support two more local charities which provide free spay and neuter services to low income families, and education of local school children in the humane treatment of all living things.

More

John Dodds

A Poet's Journey
Oct. 9, 2013

As a new full time resident on the Ajijic Literary landscape John will be sharing his body of work that spans over 40 years and seven published volumes of poetry including two children’s poetic narratives. Born in the U.S. and raised in Ontario, Canada, at 17 he joined the American Air Force, graduated from the University of Texas at El Paso and has had one foot in both countries during a long varied career as a teacher, administrator and entrepreneurial pilgrim.  

More

Janice Kimball

Three in a Cage
Sept. 25, 2013

anice, a recognized artist and writer, owns Aztec Art and Weaving Studios in Ajijic, Mexico where she lives with Max Bird and weaving maestro, Francisco Urzua. Her column, ART TALK , articles and short stories appear in Mexico's English language publications and on-line magazines.

Max, a talking parrot with clipped wings, is a deft observer of the human condition. Because of their histories, Jani and Francisco cannot fly either. The three of them unlock their past denials of past injustice and it sets them free, as zany characters come and go from their weaving studios in Ajijic.   

More

Robert Drynan

El Mirage de El Dorado
Aug. 14, 2013

Robert Drynan and Jim Tipton will introduce two of Drynan’s previously unpublished short stories that will soon appear in a volume entitled “El Mirage de El Dorado”. These stories are about the human verities, love, war, suffering, compassion, and redemption, and they will touch your heart.

More