“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.

About Excerpts Events Contact

DRIFTLESS - A new novel by Stick Vega

Coming Spring 2026

“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.”