Marie Romero Cash

Marie Romero Cash, an artist in Santa Fe, New Mexico, has survived over half of her eighty years propelling herself through the decades with courage and determination, using her creative skills every step of the way. This memoir is a testament to women who have traveled a similar journey or are about to embark on their own.

A homicide surfaces on the outskirts of Santa Fe and blindsides newlyweds Detective Rick Romero and Jemimah Hodge, derailing their honeymoon plans and putting their married life on hold. Romero's preliminary investigation reveals that this is one murder that is going to hit very close to home.

The tradition of home shrines first began evolving in the American Southwest during the Mexican colonial period, when priests often travelled to homes to perform mass, novenas, baptisms, and marriages, a practice that continues today. This colourful book features the personal altars of mostly Hispanic families living in the towns and villages of northern New Mexico. Most are devoutly Catholic, and although Roman Catholic dogma does not officially recognise home shrines, the altar tradition for most Hispanos is a sign of being "Catholic from the heart". Their private altars allow for devotion in daily life, a practice embraced by those of all beliefs who desire personal sacred places to meditate, pray, or reflect. These portraits will serve as an inspiration for even the least devout among us desiring more spirituality in our lives.

This book is a practical field guide to over 75 religious sites. "Built of Earth and Song" provides historical data on each church and the religious art within it, along with maps, a glossary of relevant Spanish and English terms, and a concise bibliography.