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Dear Outer Lands Librarian
Dear Outer Lands librarian is a blog post for librarians in the Outer Lands Archipelago including Long Island, Block Island, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and Cape Cod among others. It offers the illustrated novel ‘The Clerk and the Ink Drinker in the Outer Lands Mission’ for their collections and patrons and describes its appeal to Outer Lands readers and art lovers. It offers links to reviews and international purchasing options through the 4seasonshelf Project and Ingram Spark.
From an Outer Lands author with a book for your collection:
‘The Clerk and the Ink Drinker in the Outer Lands Mission’ an illustrated novel
A special shoutout to the librarian in the Outer Lands Archipelago — Long Island, Block Island, Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Manhattan, and more.”
An Adventure Begins, Heroes Wanted
Set in the Outer Lands Archipelago, the contemporary modernist illustrated novel is perfect for adult Outer Lands readers of literature and art lovers, who will recognize the beautiful four season setting and island life. About progress, justice, camaraderie and the healing power of storytelling, the book is very much created by and for these extraordinary times.
IndieReader calls the illustrated novel “a cataclysmic adventure.”
The novel’s plot is character-driven, neatly woven together, and multi-layered.
The adventure begins as the world is on the verge of falling apart. The Clerk narrowly escapes the city through the relocation services of the Org and is assigned a reconnaissance mission to its Outer Lands territory. The reader is recruited as the “Ink Drinker” to go along.
Flying to the Outer Lands territory, the duo is forced to make a crash sea landing. They ride a 50-year wave ashore to a terribly beautiful island. Not only must they deliver and pick up dispatches, now they must follow signs to a bridge. From the beach, they enter into a small coastal farming town. As if under an enchantment or spell, they embed with neighbors along a country road and go through a cascade of events and challenges in order to complete the mission.
“This is as much a call to action as it is a story,” said author N.G. Swett. “The world being what it is, a direct connection between writers and readers is essential. The novel came together over the last decade as all hell broke loose in publishing and new alternatives appeared. I specifically added design features in my novel to help readers take a chance on a new book in indie publishing. It’s an adventure, and I want the reader to get in. The language is easy, the plot moves, the type is large, and I even painted illustrations. I made the decision to only publish it in print for the sake of a quality reading experience and the sense of reality and personal connection we get from carrying and holding a book. But the biggest thing is that I added the reader to the title and story itself as the ‘Ink Drinker.’ Together we complete the mission.”
Readers who finish “The Clerk and the Ink Drinker in the Outer Lands Mission” join a growing league of heroes who got the assignment and completed the mission.
A list of 20+ book discussion questions is available for groups and book clubs.
N.G. Swett is a New York multimedia communications pro with extensive experience in all facets of the industry including environmental and financial communications in New York City; regional multimedia marketing and public relations for private clients; and news and feature writing for the New York Times, the East End Independent, and Dan’s Papers. Swett’s advocacy has helped families, local small businesses and professionals, downtown revitalization, and shelter pets. Ten years ago, at 50, Swett started new creative projects including the novel, painting and poetry while learning the ropes of ecommerce and self publishing.
Swett lives on Long Island with her husband, two grown children, and a large dog. She studied political science at SUNY Binghamton and attended Stuyvesant High School in New York City.
Available Globally Through Ingram Spark
The new release 2026 illustrated paperback novel, “The Clerk and the Ink Drinker in the Outer Lands Mission,” is available internationally through Ingram Spark.
The novel is published as part of Swett’s 4seasonshelf Project and is represented by Great Peconic Communications, the author’s own media company (est 1995).
Currently, signed and stamped first edition paperbacks are available at the 4seasonshelf.com online shop (USA orders only). There are no plans for an ebook or hard cover.
Where / What is the Outer Lands Archipelago?
The Outer Lands Archipelago along the American east coast is an inspiration for author and painter N.G. Swett. The islands, which include Long Island, Block Island, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod and many others, share a unique ecology, history and economy. In this blog post you can find a Google map, an excellent library resource, and examples of creative works by N.G. Swett including a poem, short story, videos, and the illustrated novel ‘The Clerk and the Ink Drinker in the Outer Lands Mission’.
The primordial islands that shape the 4seasonshelf Project, including the illustrated novel ‘The Clerk and the Ink Drinker in the Outer Lands Mission’ by N.G. Swett
Credit: Google maps and graphic design by N.G. Swett and 4seasonshelf
The Ice Age islands along the American northeast coast share ecology, history and economies. It’s a rich area creatively as well, a place that seems to speak to those who live there and visit. It inspires the author and painter N.G. Swett, especially the 4seasonshelf Project.
The islands include Long Island, Block Island, Cape Cod, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard and many more.
Wonderful book on the subject:
The Outer Lands by Dorothy Sterling and illustrated by Winifred Lubell
This richly illustrated and well written book details the natural history of the Outer Lands Archipelago. It can be found in the collections of most libraries in the Archipelago!
More about the Outer Lands Archipelago
How can a place inspire us? Here’s an example, a short rhyming poem by N.G. Swett for the 4seasonshelf Project
Continues >
Even more about the Outer Lands Archipelago
Enjoy a few videotaped moments on an Outer Lands ocean beach HERE.
Take a little bus excursion with Nan to an Outer Lands fishing village HERE.
Read a prize winning short story by N.G. Swett that was an early version of the first chapter of the illustrated novel ‘The Clerk and the Ink Drinker in the Outer Lands Mission’ : HERE.
Last but not least, order the contemporary illustrated novel with an Outer Lands setting:
Please allow 2-4 weeks for delivery.
Written and Illustrated by N.G. Swett
Illustrated Paperback
Copyright 2026 by N.G. Swett
292 pages
First Edition
“The Best Season?” a small talkin’ one-minute love poem
What is YOUR favorite season -- winter, spring, summer or fall? Here's a nice and easy one-minute short poem about a great small talk topic that everyone cares about, the seasons and the weather. Illustrated with black and white photo of a spring daffodil flower for a contemporary minimalist aesthetic. The short rhyming poem, "The Best Season?", is one of a collection of 36 poems in the poetry book, HOLD ME TIGHT by NY/Outer Lands Archipelago poet, blogger and painter NG Swett. The book is available in hard cover and ebook internationally. Nan is experimenting with short mobile videos like this for sharing poems, blog posts and new paintings online.
Three slides of a short 1-minute mobile video for the poem “The Best Season?” by NG Swett, Outer Lands Archipelago / NY poet
This is the 1:09sec video for posting “The Best Season?” love poem from HOLD ME TIGHT poetry book.
The video and the individual slides (pngs) are for posting on social media platforms with links back here to this website at 4seasonshelf.com.
Audio is added on each platform to avoid copyright issues.
What is YOUR favorite season
-- winter, spring, summer or fall?
Here's a nice and easy one-minute short poem about a great small talk topic. Everyone cares about the seasons and the weather!
Small talk is a lost art, isn’t it? People are so shy and wary of talking to strangers. When you’re at the front desk, as I’ve been from time to time over the years, small talk is perfect for engaging with people. It’s friendly but not nosy.
People feel nostalgic for the seasons and what special things each season brings to life. Changes, cycles and transitions are in our human nature.
About this poem
The short rhyming poem, "The Best Season?", is one from my new collection of 36 poems, HOLD ME TIGHT (link to buy internationally). The book is available in hard cover and ebook formats.
Minimalist aesthetic photo illustration
The poem is Illustrated here and in the book with a black and white photo of a flowering spring daffodil for a contemporary minimalist aesthetic.
In the book, each of the 36 poems shares a two-page spread with its own minimalist black and white photo collage illustration.
I’m experimenting with short mobile videos like the one above for sharing poems, blog posts and new paintings online.
Thanks for checking out my blog!
~ Nan
P.S. I invite you to keep in touch by subscribing to my email list.
Love in the air in New York
A lucky convergence of trends as New York poet publishes book of love poetry. According to new studies, New York ranks tops in romance and smart growth walkability. Poetry is also having a moment. Nan gives example of how trends can help with searchability, discoverability.
Love, walking & poetry trending as New York poet publishes book of love poetry
Did you know? Brand new studies say New York is now a top LOVE capitol of America? And most walkable too!
And poetry is red hot.
Serendipity! What better time for a New York poet to release a collection of love poetry than during a national love fest for New York?
Walkability, Romance Trending in New York
According to a recent study, New York City is one of the best, most walkable cities in America, and according to another one New York is one of the most romantic states in America.
Walkability
At first, I was surprised to see the Big Apple ranked #1 most walkable city in America*. But think about it. You don't need a car to get around town. There are sidewalks, parks and bike paths everywhere. The walking grid of streets is easy and always interesting. Lovers can easily stroll up and down the town. And what a big, big town it is.
Walkability is a growing smart trend connecting some key groups of people including families, young adults, Gen Z, price-conscious people, millennials, seniors, visitors, tourists, workers, and New York locals — basically for everyone. Walking can help keep us healthy and fit. Owning cars has become too expensive and too much of a hassle. Even public transportation can be too expensive. Walking and biking are better for the environment. A nice stroll is a good activity for getting out of the house for our mental health.
No need to spend the most. The sights are free. Go for a romantic stroll.
Enter new book of love poems by New York poet
Love is in the air in New York!
Last summer, when the sky was alarmingly yellow from Canadian wildfires, I wrote a book of love poems. Now I’m self-publishing the collection.
Poetry is trending, too.
All kinds of poetry — the good, the bad, and everything in between. I’ve done some research, and poetry is hot right now. I don’t know how long it will last, but hopefully forever. It is also all over social media.
Poetry is a powerful, elegant, fun and expressive way to describe the world. This first book of poetry was fun to write, edit, format and self publish.
In Hold Me Tight, I tried many kinds of poetry formats from traditional rhyming poems to limerick and haiku, rap to free verse. The nature of the poem’s message and tone was a key piece of which kind of poem I used.
In the poems, I talk about the blind elation of falling in love, the wedding, the lovers spat, the love for children, the courtship dates, the building of a life together, the love of neighbors, artificial intelligence and good friends — and more. And toward the end, I indulge in some strident poetic justice type of topics which may or may not have anything to do with love.
Each of the 36 poems is formatted in a two-page spread with a black and white photo collage illustration. The style is minimalist and modern.
The type is large, and the poems are short.
New York minute love poem video
To pull the above trends together and tie them to my new book of love poems, I made the vertical one-minute mobile video below.
Book of love poetry as a gift?
A book of love poetry is a romantic and inspiring gift for any occasion — a lovers stroll, Valentine’s Day, springtime romance, birthdays, anniversaries, weddings and engagements.
Treat yourself to some poetic inspiration! It’s perfect reading for coffee cafe lounging and people watching.
The poems are about love, relationships, falling in love, everyday love, long term love, love of children, self love, reflections on the world at large, declarations, city life and country life.
#shelfie #4seasonshelf
What's on the shelf today?
On the shelf today are early indoor planting stuff…
seed packets
pen & ink sketches of seed packets
herbs in faux terracotta window planter (indoors)
clean plastic containers for planting seeds
It's springtime, and the garden adventure begins again here in the Outer Lands Archipelago.
We still have a while until we can plant outdoors, except for certain crops that like colder temps, such as leafy greens, peas, etc., which don’t mind a little frost.
Farmstand Update: What’s In Season
It’s the end of March, and most local farmstands have only one thing as of yet: firewood (see below). But before you know it, you'll see early crops start to come in like rhubarb, asparagus, horseradish and many more bittersweet lovelies. Local chickens are already laying eggs. And fresh daffodils!
Local farm stand with firewood in early spring empty shelves.