About the author
Tiffany McCarthy — author & illustrator, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Tiffany McCarthy is the author and illustrator of the Sage & Elle children's book series. She resides in Sandwich, Massachusetts — on Cape Cod, surrounded by the lighthouses, beaches, and cobblestone streets that inspire her work — with her husband Ian and their three children, Payton, Connor, and Elle, plus a not-so-tiny Yorkie named Ziggy.
She first fell in love with Nantucket in 1996, living on-island from 1996 to 2001, and has been sketching and painting for as far back as she can remember. The series itself began one evening watching the sun set over Nantucket Sound: while sketching, she drew two young girls holding hands on a beach — and knew their story deserved to reach readers everywhere.
The characters carry pieces of that world. Sage embodies curiosity and bravery, named for the herb that grows wild on the Cape's trails. Elle (Janelle) is thoughtful and observant, always with a sketchbook in hand — mirroring Tiffany's own practice. Every book is set in a real place she has personally visited and researched, beginning as pencil sketches in her notebook and growing into warm, soft watercolor worlds.
"I want every child who reads these books to feel like Sage and Elle are their friends — a real place, a real friendship, and a real adventure."
Tiffany approaches children's literature without villains or shame-based lessons — offering warmth, kindness, and curiosity in a beautiful world, like a warm hug from a good friend. N is for Nantucket was her first released book; the Sage & Elle series continues with new destinations on the way.