DRIFTLESS - Vega readies new novel for release
I’ve been writing the last couple of years. And finally we are getting ready to release my new novel - DRIFTLESS. It has been a blast!
Here is a bit about it.
“Glaciers never flattened the Driftless Region.
It remembers what came before.
Leo North thought he could outrun his past by hiding in plain sight—repairing engines, reading poetry, and pretending he was finished with violence. But when a deadly explosion tears through a small Wisconsin town, Leo discovers that the land itself is being weaponized.
Anna Erikson, a defense attorney with a gift for research and an eye for buried truths, begins connecting the dots: strange symbols, forgotten folklore, and an ambitious industrialist convinced he can awaken something holy beneath the hills.
As ancient cave systems ignite with unnatural energy and the boundaries between science, myth, and madness collapse, Leo is forced to confront the truth he’s been avoiding—some places don’t let you escape. They demand a reckoning.
A gripping blend of eco-thriller, country noir, and modern folklore, Driftless is a story about power, memory, and the cost of believing you can control what was never meant to be touched.”
Soon, we will be making available Advance Reader Copies for free. And we hope you will take the time to leave a review. (We also hope you look forward to when hard copies are released)
DRIFTLESS by Stick Vega (2026)
“Driftless has an excellent voice and distinct dialogue!”
“The setting of the unglaciated Driftless region is a standout.”
”Clear and cinematic with great pace and action.”
”The ending is emotionally satisfying!”
”A nice balance of humor and serious.”
”The dog, Buck, is a star!”
Overview
Driftless is a taut, atmospheric thriller that weaves geological mystery, rural noir, and explosive action into a uniquely compelling narrative set in Wisconsin's Driftless Region—a glacially untouched landscape that becomes both character and catalyst.
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.
Artist Stick Vega studied mathematics and economics, earning a B.S. in economics from UW-Madison and an MBA from Edgewood College. He owned and was CEO of online apparel retailers WinterSilks and Venus Sportswear. However, upon selling the companies more than a decade ago he headed straight to his studio - The Blast Factory in Madison, WI - to create explosive, modern art with gunpowder and high-speed fuse. Stick's current work includes paintings, drawings, fusographs (exploded photographs) and writing. Please follow Stick on Facebook and/or Twitter.