New Novel "Wince" Examines American Gun Culture and Masculinity

Drew Nellins Smith's latest novel, "Wince," published in July 2026, delves into the complexities of American masculinity and its intersections with gun culture. The book presents a character study of a man at his lowest point.

The protagonist, Winston Fisher Jr., known as Wince, is a thrice-divorced, unemployed, and drug-addled individual. He lives in a rented house, surrounded by his personal arsenal of firearms, while struggling with his fractured relationships and financial ruin.

Wince begins customizing AR-15 rifles as a side hustle, a venture that quickly escalates into a more dangerous and lucrative operation. The plot thickens when he discovers a cartel-operated stash house, prompting him to consider a dangerous robbery.

Described as a darkly comic and sharp satire, "Wince" tackles themes of depression, the ubiquity of guns, and the specific American delusion that catastrophe can be a path to stability. The novel has been praised by fellow authors for its unflinching portrayal of its subject matter and its compelling, if morally ambiguous, protagonist.