Written by Kathi Macias
Published at New Hope Publishers
About the book
A young Chinese woman, Zhen-Li—raised to observe the party line, including its one-child-per-family doctrine—falls in love with and marries a Christian, and adopts his faith. Though the couple downplays their Christianity in an effort to survive, Zhen-Li’s family is appalled, and she and her husband are ostracized. When she becomes pregnant for the second time and refuses to have an abortion, the persecution begins in earnest. Zhen-Li’s parents, under pressure from the government, pay to have Zhen-Li kidnapped and the baby aborted.
It is then Zhen-Li decides she must live up to her name—"Truth"—and take a firm stand for her faith, regardless of the consequences, and so she begins to regularly teach children about Zhu Yesu ("Lord Jesus") and to distribute Christian literature every chance she gets.
Based loosely on the life of Christian magazine editor Li Ying, currently serving a ten-year prison sentence in China, the story of Yang Zhen-Li tells the desperate tale of her incarceration and separation from her family, as she continues to minister to other prisoners, and even to her guards.
Who is Kathi Macias?
My Thoughts
Reading books that remind us of the persecution that Christians experience in China is always thought provoking I find. This book is such a book. Sometimes I find that Christianity in North America is too easy and we can easily get side-tracked.
I am enjoying reading this book as you get various stories at the same time. At one point you are transported in China and enter the lives of Yang Zhen-Li and her family and then suddenly you follow prayer warriors in a retirement home in California. At the same time, you get introduced to a young woman who gets in trouble and her grand-mother who is bitter to the bone about her family. This was a nice mix of characters and events.
When I read how believers in China are treated, it breaks my heart. And at the same time, I wonder how I would react in the same situation. If we look in our hearts, would we stand for Jesus? I hope that I would because He is precious to me.
The events surrounding the young woman is quite disturbing but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised because it does exists in our dark world. It is sad to realize that young ladies are lied to and used in such a way that they are degraded and abused.
This novel is definitively thought provoking and will hopefully encourage you to pray regularly when the Spirit nudge you to do so – even when you don’t know the details of a situation. After all, God is all knowing. Ultimately, He knows the details and will do something about it.
Questions/Answers from Kathi Macias
Red Ink is the third book in your four-book Extreme Devotion series. Each book is set in a different country, with the theme of first devotion and commitment to Christ above all else running through all four. How is Red Ink different, and who/what inspired you to write this book?
Red Ink is the only one of the four books that actually deals with someone being arrested and suffering specifically for her faith in Christ. The story is loosely based on my own personal heroine, Li Ying, who is currently serving a ten-year sentence in China for printing/distributing Christian materials, particularly to children. I pray for Li Ying daily, and I remind myself how very blessed I am to have the freedom to do what she did—without paying the price she now pays.
Can you give us a brief synopsis of this story?
A young Chinese woman, Zhen-Li—raised to observe the party line, including its one-child-per-family doctrine—falls in love with and marries a Christian, and adopts his faith. Though the couple downplays their Christianity in an effort to survive, Zhen-Li’s family is appalled, and she and her husband are ostracized. When she becomes pregnant for the second time and refuses to have an abortion, the persecution begins in earnest. Zhen-Li’s parents, under pressure from the government, pay to have Zhen-Li kidnapped and the baby aborted.
It is then Zhen-Li decides she must live up to her name—"Truth"—and take a firm stand for her faith, regardless of the consequences, and so she begins to regularly teach children about Zhu Yesu ("Lord Jesus") and to distribute Christian literature every chance she gets. Based loosely on the life of Christian magazine editor Li Ying, currently serving a ten-year prison sentence in China, the story of Yang Zhen-Li tells the desperate tale of her incarceration and separation from her family, as she continues to minister to other prisoners, and even to her guards, leading to a surprising conclusion that will both stun and challenge readers.
How did you get into writing? Has it always been your passion, or is it something you came to later in life?
I’ve always wanted to write, for as long as I can remember. I was an avid reader even before I started kindergarten. I wrote a short story in third grade that the teacher liked so much she showed it to the principal, and they decided to turn it into a play for the entire PTA. I was hooked! One day when I was about 13, I was walking home from school with my then boyfriend (now husband), Al, and I told him I’d be a writer some day. He often reminds me how blessed I am to have been able to do what I dreamed of all my life.
I understand you’re running a special contest that has to do with this book. Can you tell us about it?
Actually, I’m running the same contest twice—two chances to win a free Kindle! To be eligible, follow these three steps:
- You have to read Red Ink and post reviews on Amazon, CBD, etc., and/or your personal blog;
- You must also be a follower of my Easy Writer blog (address below); and,
- Let me know via my website contact email: mailto:ezyrtr@ca.rr.com that you have met the requirements and want to be entered.
The first winner will be announced in early November; the second in mid-December, just in time for a last-minute Christmas gift.
In addition to writing, you are a popular speaker at women’s event, writers’ conferences, and various venues around the country. How can people find out more about you, your writing and speaking, sign up for your weekly devotional newsletter (in English or Spanish), and/or just view your many book videos, etc.?
They can find me at my website (http://www.kathimacias.com) or blog (http://kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com). There is a “contact” button on my website if they’d like to send me a message. I always respond to all my emails!
CONTEST
I’ve received an extra copy of Red Ink to give away.
The contest is simple, follow the steps below to get a chance to win. Don’t forget to include your email address so I can contact you!
1) Tell me why you would like to receive this book.
This entry is mandatory before proceeding further.
More entries opportunity if you do the following…
2) Follow Canadianladybug Reviews! on Blogger and let me know about it.
3) Like Canadianladybug Reviews! on facebook and let me know about.
4) Follow me on twitter and leave me your twitter ID.
5) Blog about this contest and give me your link in a comment.
Don’t forget to include your email for each steps. No email means I will have to pick someone else. I need to be able to contact you if you win! Random.org will be use to determine the winner. You will have 48 hours to contact me and give me your mailing address so I can send it to you!
Open to Canadian residents ONLY. You must have a Canadian mailing address.
Deadline: November 12, 2010.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided to me as a blog tour host by New Hope Publishers in exchange for posting this interview on my blog. Please visit Christian Speaker Services at www.ChristianSpeakerServices.com for more information about blog tour management services.
Red Ink is available everywhere even at Amazon.ca.
Thanks so much for the post about Red Ink. I too pray that this book, though not an easy read, will encourage believers to put prayer and intercession at the top of their priority list. Blessings to you and your readers!
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds like it has a very great plot and I'm interested to find out how/if the character lives up to her name of "truth".
ReplyDeletetrisha dot davis at gmail dot com
Trisha won the book! Congrats!
ReplyDelete