A story of childhood memories laced with sweet nostalgia is what inspired author Jill Anderson Cavanagh to sit down one afternoon 20 years ago and write. 

The book that she had created then sat untouched for several years, with no notions to be published. 

That is until one day during the pandemic, when Cavanagh rediscovered her forgotten work and sent it over to a friend on a whim. 

“During COVID I just sent it to one of my girlfriends who is a writer and I said, ‘what do you think of this?’ and she said, ‘oh, I love it, can I send it to my niece?,’’ she explained. 

The niece that Cavanagah’s book was sent to, just so happened to be a publisher, which is how the book was brought to life. 

The book, titled, ‘If I Had a Sister,’ is Cavanagh’s way of thanking each friend that made an impact in her life in some way. 

“So, it just starts out with who were my sisters when I was in public school, and who were the girls I hung out with as teenagers,” she said. “And then my bridesmaids, and who I was close to and then having babies, and gifts, and church. And so many different activities that we went through and picked up friends along the way.” 

The Swift Current author said that she doesn’t think she would have perused publishing the book without the encouragement of those around her. 

“I probably wouldn't have published it on my own, but now that it's here, I hope people will enjoy it, to give to a girlfriend and one of the greatest gifts you can give someone is thanking them for being part of your life, and that's what my books about,” she stated.