It’s my very great pleasure to welcome Ros Rendle to the blog today. Ros lives just up the road from me and we have served together on the Deepings Literary Festival committee. I caught up with Ros in person recently and realised she’d never actually featured on Linda’s Book Bag so we’re putting that omission right today.
Let’s find out more:
Staying in with Ros Rendle
Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Ros and thank you for staying in with me.
It’s lovely to spend an evening with you, Linda.
Tell me, which of your books have you brought along this evening?
The book I’ve brought is Sisters At War. It’s the first of a series of books about three sisters in times of early 20th century turbulence in Europe and beyond.
A series of books in that era must have taken considerable research.
With the extent of research I’ve done for the subject matters, the stories have the possibility of being grim but, while painting a picture of those times, WW1, WW2, and the Cold War, each is definitely interesting (I’m told), and ultimately uplifting. In each, they look at the position of women in a ‘man’s world’ and how they show bravery, and conquer setbacks to reach fulfilment.
I love a bit of ‘herstory’ as a counterbalance to history Ros! Tell me more…
Sisters At War is set during WW1, and covers life for men in the trenches but also the things women did to contribute and survive. I’ve brought Rose, my main character from the first book along with me. Let me introduce her to you.
Rose gives a small self-conscious smile, pushes her glasses up her nose, and pats her fly-away hair.
“She has agreed that we might tell the background to her story.” I glance at her. “Rose, you are serious and intelligent, and I know you’ve loved Michael for as long as you can remember.”
“Yes, It’s true but I’ve secured a place at Oxford university. I know, as a woman, I can’t win the degree even if I qualify but it will be marvellous, and Father is so generous to let me go. It’s causing problems, though.”
“Oh?”
“Delphi is far from happy. She’s so vivacious and beautiful, exotic-looking, really, but she’s always struggled as the middle sister. She’s envious of me and this opportunity, and Iris, Izzy we call her, is the young one and spoiled, I suppose.
“I gather Delphi has told you a secret.”
“Yes, I’m not sure whether to believe her or not. Perhaps she’s being malicious. She’s complex, but I do love her dearly. She told me Michael has said he loves her and has asked her to wait for him when he goes away to France. It shouldn’t be a surprise. She’s so lovely.” Rose needlessly brushes her skirt and takes a moment.
I give her time, and say, “I’m not giving anything away to say that Delphi will eventually go to France, too. She will grow and develop but she’ll have a major life-changing experience.”
“Indeed, and maybe I’ll even develop some sense of my own place,” Rose says.
“My dear Rose, it’s not always wise to be too self-deprecating. I know you try to see the best in everyone but if it’s at the expense of your own worth and well-being, well…” I pause. “Michael’s going to France, you say?”
I like the sound of Rose. What made you decide on WW1 as your narrative background for Sisters at War?
My grandfather, who fought at the battle of the Somme, survived those ordeals and when we went to live in France we weren’t far from the battlefields.
My grandfather was at the Somme too – reported missing in action, blinded in one eye and with shrapnel embedded in him for the rest of his life. I find the battlefields fascinating so I think I’d love Sisters at War.
Through significant research and looking at war diaries of the time, my husband and I found him mentioned, and were able to walk within ten metres of his positions on that first day – 1st July 1916. When he died, a small memento was found among his effects. It was a tiny ‘touch wood’ figure. He would have worn it on his watch chain. They were given to soldiers for good luck and a swift return, hence the four-leaved clover stamped on its little wooden head and the wings on its heels. The arms can be raised to touch the wood. This one has a silver body but others were brass or gold, and some had precious stones for the eyes. I have a collection of nearly forty now and each is slightly different.
Oh! I haven’t heard of them. I’d love to see that collection sometime. What else have you brought along?
I’ve also brought some slices of trench cake. The women at home sometimes made this and sent it out as a taste of home to their men in France. Sometimes eggs were in short supply, and were substituted with vinegar and baking soda to make it rise. I shan’t be offended if you don’t want to try it. It’s a little dense, shall we say!
I think I’d better just give it a quality control test Ros, even if it doesn’t sound the most appetising! Thanks so much for staying in with me to chat about Sisters at War. You serve up a couple of slices of cake and I’ll give readers a few more details about Sisters at War:
Sisters at War
In the shadow of war, a young woman battles with her heart…
England, 1913
Eighteen-year-old Rose Strong has loved childhood friend Michael Redfern for as long as she can remember.
However, believing that Michael loves her beautiful but aloof younger sister, Delphi, Rose vows to keep her feelings hidden.
When war breaks out, Michael enlists, and Rose fears for his life as he heads to the trenches in France.
As the war rages on, Rose strikes up a friendship with Thom, a budding engineer. And when Thom’s feelings for her grow warmer, Rose must decide whether she is prepared to betray her heart.
And with Delphi joining the Women’s Legion while Rose remains at home, it seems Michael and Delphi may grow closer. But Delphi is harbouring a secret of her own…
Will Michael make it home safely? Is he destined to be with Delphi?
Or could Rose be the one to win his heart…?
Published by Sapere Books on 13th July 2021, Sisters at War is available for purchase here.
About Ros Rendle
After taking early retirement as a headteacher, when Ros Rendle had to write many policy documents and also had fun story-writing for children, she moved with her husband and dogs to France. She lived there for over ten years and began writing seriously for adults. She joined the Romantic Novelists’ Association New Writers’ Scheme. This afforded a detailed critique of her first novel and subsequently she was fortunate enough to gain a publishing contract. Ros has twelve historical and romance books published and another three contracted, frequently featuring the French countryside and sometimes even a handsome, enigmatic Frenchman!
The new mediaeval series (first book published 25/07/2025 and two others, so far, to follow), is published under the pseudonym of Cara Clayton.
Now, as well as writing, Ros and her husband are raising a guide dog puppy for the blind and enjoy walking him and their new pet dog.
For further information, visit Ros’s website, follow her on X @ros_rendle or find Ros on Facebook and Bluesky.
English (US) · 