In 1987, Mary J. Andrade started a journalistic research project in Janitzio, Michoacan, covering a different state of the Mexican Republic each year to gather information and to take photographs of a tradition that was originated during the pre-hispanic era, and after evolving through the centuries has become an important element of the Mexican spirit and culture.

With the purpose of advancing in her knowledge of this tradition, Mary Andrade travels at the end of October each year to different parts of Mexico, where she has interviewed inhabitants, anthropologists, and personalities with a knowledge about the way the day of the dead is celebrated in their own communities. Through personal observations she has been able to establish differences and to note similarities among the cities of Mexico. Above all she has been able to perceive the deep respect towards this centuries old tradition, equally manifested in small villages and large cities.

In the year 2000, Mary J. Andrade received "The Mexican Silver Pen" award from the Mexican Government Tourism Secretary,  for her first Book of the series, which focused on the state of Michoacan. All three books on Michoacan, Oaxaca, Mexico City, Mixquic and Morelos have also received the "Latino Literary Hall of Fame" award under different categories. Her children's book "The Vigil of the Little Angels" has also received two awards from The Latino Literary Hall of Fame.

In her fourth book of the series entitled "Through the Eyes of the Soul, Day of the Dead in Mexico", Mary J. Andrade presents her research on several towns and cities of the states of Puebla, Tlaxcala, San Luis Potosi and Hidalgo.