Tennessee Mystery Series
A Note from the Creative Well
People often ask why I move between the canvas, the guitar, and the page. To me, they have never been separate rooms; they are simply different windows looking out at the same horizon.
When I paint the Lost Coast or Tennessee ridges, I am capturing the "where." When I compose pieces like Nicholas Country, I am capturing the "how it feels." But when I write as P. Benjamin Mackey, I am finally asking the "why."
The Tennessee Mystery Series is an extension of the same spiritual curiosity that drove the California books. Whether I am holding a brush or a pen, I am looking for the frequency where the land and the human spirit collide. In these hills, the shadows are long and the history is thick. To find the truth in a "whodunnit," you first have to understand the rhythm of the place and the colors of the secrets people keep.
I don’t believe an artist has to stay in one lane. Life is too vast for a single speed. I invite you to read these stories not just as puzzles to be solved, but as landscapes to be felt—the same way you might sit with a painting or get lost in a song.
Thank you for walking these trails with me.
— Nicholas Vitale
Tennessee Mystery Series
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Map Expands: P. Benjamin Mackey Maps the American Soul from the California Coast to the Tennessee Hollows
NASHVILLE, TN — After haunting the rugged peaks of the West in the acclaimed California Mystery Series, polymath artist and musician Nicholas Vitale—writing as P. Benjamin Mackey—has turned his gaze East.
Today marks the official launch of The Tennessee Mystery Series, a high-octane literary cycle that begins with a debut novel available now, to be followed by a relentless four-book release schedule concluding this autumn.
Where Landscape Meets Legacy
Vitale, known for his vibrant landscape paintings and recent musical releases like Nicholas Country (2025), continues to act as a "conscious medium" between nature and narrative. While his previous series explored the spiritual enigmas of Yosemite and Mt. Shasta, the new Tennessee collection dives into the "Volunteer State’s" deep-rooted folklore and hidden shadows.
"If the California series was about the height of the peaks, the Tennessee series is about the depth of the roots," says Mackey. "These stories aren't just whodunnits; they are excavations of the human heart in places where the past refuses to stay buried."
The Autumn of Mystery: 5 Books, 1 Season
In a move as prolific as his discography, Mackey is challenging the traditional publishing pace. With the first installment of the Tennessee Mystery Series live today, readers can expect a new atmospheric puzzle every few weeks, totaling five interconnected tales by the time the autumn leaves turn.
The Artistic Bridge:
The Foundation: The California Mystery Series (Yosemite, Mt. Tamalpais, and beyond) established Mackey’s signature blend of high-stakes intrigue and "Spiritual Insights."
The New Frontier: The Tennessee Mystery Series maintains that soul-stirring romance and suspense but introduces a new, grittier energy reflective of the Southern wilderness.
The Vision: Combining the rhythmic pacing of his music (West Coast Vibe) with the rich textures of his paintings, Mackey creates a multi-sensory reading experience.
About P. Benjamin Mackey (Nicholas Vitale)
Nicholas Vitale is a multi-disciplinary force—musician, painter, and writer. Under the pseudonym P. Benjamin Mackey, he bridges the gap between the seen and the unseen, specializing in mysteries that explore the intersection of human emotion and the unexplained mysteries of the natural world.