Stick Vega
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Stick Vega
The glaciers missed the Driftless. Something else didn’t.
by STICK VEGA
The glaciers missed the Driftless, leaving behind a land unlike any other on Earth. Now a brilliant and dangerous man is determined to wake the secret buried beneath its soil, while Leo, Anna, and Buck race to stop him before the growing power escapes the hills. Because once the Driftless awakens, it won’t be possible to put it back to sleep.
“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.”
Discover more at stickvega.com or facebook.com/stickvega
“Driftless is a confident, intelligent thriller that respects both its genre conventions and its regional setting. Stick Vega has crafted a novel that works as propulsive entertainment while also serving as a love letter to an overlooked American landscape. The writing is muscular but not macho, atmospheric without being purple, and emotionally intelligent about trauma and healing.”
TYPE Rating 4.25/5
“Mix the Driftless region's magnificent bluffs and coulees with local lore and pepper in a generous dose of malevolent evil, and you have the makings of a truly remarkable read. Vega brings it all to life through a cast of unforgettable characters: Joe, Ana, and Buck, a fiercely loyal dog, crafting a pulse-pounding eco-thriller that is as deeply rooted in its landscape as it is in the hearts of its characters. ”
L. Endicott — Madison, WI
“I am enjoying "Driftless"! The character development, the plot progression, and the structure of the chapters are spot-on. The MacGuffin is mysterious without being precious or contrived. The language and dialogue creates some memorable quotes. I am on page 92. Trying a Hillsboro Bohemian Club is definitely in my future!”
T. Geiss — Madison, WI
“Great story. Look forward to visiting Viroqua and seeing the sinkhole and where Leo’s shop was! The book rocks! Hard to put down. Reminds me of Lee Childs style.”
B. Larson — Batavia, IL
Author. Artist. Investor.
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 art novel Less Killing and has written several award-winning screenplays. 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.
