About Stick Vega - Author

Stick Vega was born and raised in the heart of Wisconsin’s Driftless Region in Viroqua, where the land’s history, folklore, and contradictions continue to shape his work. He is the author of the novel Less Killing and has written numerous award-winning screenplays, including A Shot Away and King’s Murder Still, along with hundreds of short works across film and fiction.

In addition to writing, Vega is a nationally recognized visual artist known for his explosive paintings created using gunpowder and fuse. His work has been collected throughout the United States and reflects the same tension, risk, and controlled chaos that define his storytelling.

He lives in Monona, Wisconsin, with his wife Renee and their Shetland Sheepdog, Archie “Buck” Vig.

DRIFTLESS Acknowledgements

I grew up in the beautiful, intense Driftless Region of Wisconsin. Viroqua was my hometown, and the land—its hills, coulees, rivers, and quiet menace—never really lets you go. Many of the stories and ideas in this novel are rooted in the folklore my mom shared with me growing up. The places in this book are real. The people are fictional. Mostly.

My love of poetry, and especially the work of Robert Frost, came from my dad. He taught me that words matter, that rhythm matters, and that sometimes the quiet line carries the most weight. That influence lives in these pages.

Thank you to my wife, Renee. Without your support, patience, and belief every single day, this book would not exist. Harrison, Mike, and Kara—you are always there when it counts, and I’m grateful for you more than I can say.

And a special thank you to Archie “Buck” Vig, our Shetland Sheepdog. He is the heart and soul of this story, and my constant companion through every draft.

If you’d like to discover more about my writing and art, visit stickvega.com, and please follow me on Facebook at facebook.com/stickvega.

I hope you’ll look forward to seeing Leo, Anna—and of course, Buck—again in their next adventure.