Marie Romero Cash – författare

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 collection of short stories and prose chronicles events observed by the author during her lifetime in Northern New Mexico. Family, relatives, friends and strangers (real or imaginary) are caught off guard in everyday occurrences that evoke laughter, tears, or memories of the past. The names have, of course, been changed, and much embellishment has been added to stories which may or may not be true. Stories of innocence, family dynamics, relationships and injustice combine to bring a tongue in cheek narrative to the reader. The author adds: “My inner barrio is full of observations, whether from the neighborhood where I grew up in Santa Fe or from watching ordinary people interact with each other. I try to see the humor in whatever life throws at us and hope some of these stories will bring a chuckle or a hearty laugh to anyone willing to let their guard down as they read on.” Born in Santa Fe, MARIE ROMERO CASH is an award-winning folk artist/santera who has been exhibiting her colorful works for over thirty years. She is also a writer, having authored several books on Northern New Mexican culture, shrines, saints and churches including: BUILT OF EARTH AND SONG: A GUIDEBOOK TO NORTHERN NEW MEXICO’S VILLAGE CHURCHES; LIVING SHRINES: DEVOTIONAL SPACES IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO HOMES; SANTOS, A COLORING BOOK OF NEW MEXICO SAINTS (also from Sunstone Press); and her memoir about growing up in Santa Fe, TORTILLA CHRONICLES.