Cavanagh releases first book If I Had A Sister

Jill Cavanagh didn’t plan to write a book. It all started as a story penned in a writing workshop 20 years ago. During the isolation of COVID when she, like all of us, longed to be with our friends, she heard the song “Memories” by Maroon 5 sung by the Children’s One Voice Choir. One line from the song — “memories bring back memories, bring back you” — reminded her of the writing she had done so long ago.

Recently, she showed it to a friend who asked, “May I show this to my niece?” It turns out, that the niece was a publisher, and the book “If I Had A Sister” was born. It is heart-warming narrative, richly illustrated by the art of Stephanie Ross, told from the heart about friendship and how important our friends are in our lives.

Cavanagh was adopted as an infant. Her family moved around a lot and by the time she was 10 years old she had lived in five cities throughout Alberta and Saskatchewan. Perhaps it was all this moving around that initiated what was to become a key influence in Jill’s life: friendships. That, and the fact that, although she grew up with two brothers, she had always wanted a sister.

By the time she had moved to Swift Current to begin her career as a teacher, Cavanagh had made many ‘forever-friends.’ In the years since that move, (little did she know that, after moving around every few years, she would come to live in the same community for more than 50 years) friendships and their influence on her have continued to grow.

Her book is based on the friendships she formed along the way, all of which filled her longing for a sister. Each page relates a vignette from a different stage of her life and the friends who were so important to her, from playmates, to high school friends, friends that she was a bridesmaid for, friends she raised her children with, friends who gave her the love of a sister.

Oh, yes, there is one more thing: At age 32 Jill located her birth parents (who had married eight months after she had been given up for adoption) and discovered that she had five siblings: two more brothers AND three sisters! She is close friends with one sister, Marjie, and will be officiating at the marriage of Marjie’s daughter next Spring in Calgary. Her book is dedicated to these sisters whom she wishes she had known when growing up.

Cavanagh will be selling and signing her book at Sentiments Home and Design on September 23rd from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.