🗞 M.I.D Newsletter | Issue #11
WHERE IN THE MIND? | June 2026
Author Makitia Thompson
From the Desk of Minds In Design
Editor's Note
There is something strangely fitting about this issue being called Where In The Mind?
For the past several months, many of you may have noticed that I have been quieter than usual. Fewer updates, fewer posts. Less of me scattered across the internet. The truth is simple: I've been building.
Some of that building has been visible.
Much of it has not.
This June marks a significant milestone for both myself and Minds In Design. It has officially been two years since I founded Minds In Design, and it has also been two years since I made the difficult decision to stop painting and focus entirely on writing.
At the time, it felt necessary.
I knew I couldn't build the catalogue I dreamed of if my attention was divided between too many creative pursuits. So I made a choice. I put the brushes away. I focused on books. I focused on stories. I focused on creating a foundation strong enough to support the vision I had for Minds In Design.
Two years later, I can confidently say it was the right decision. Those years allowed me to build novels, poetry collections, short stories, quotation books, companion works, behind-the-scenes content, and entire fictional universes.
But recently I found myself missing something.
I missed creating visually, I missed color. I missed the feeling of watching an idea become something tangible through art. So I'm incredibly excited to share that I'm officially returning to art.
Minds In Design is no longer simply a place for books.
It is becoming a place for imagination in every form.
- Stories.
- Poetry.
- Worldbuilding.
- Art.
- Ideas.
And everything that exists between them.n This issue also marks another exciting development. My audiobooks are now becoming available through Audible's All-You-Can-Listen (AYCL) program. This means readers and listeners with Audible memberships can experience my work in a completely new way without purchasing individual titles.
Accessibility has always mattered deeply to me. I want readers to feel welcome regardless of how they choose to experience stories. Whether you read ebooks, listen to audiobooks. Collect paperbacks, or discover stories through free content on my blog. There should always be a doorway into the worlds we create. And speaking of worlds...
My primary focus for the remainder of 2026 is the rapidly expanding House Of Witnesses universe.
Three books are already available and the fourth is on the way. Companion content is growing, behind-the-scenes materials are expanding. And the deeper I go into this universe, the more I realize how much larger it truly is. House Of Witnesses was never meant to be a single story.
It was always meant to be a system.
A mystery.
A world. And for those already reading, trust me when I say:
You've only scratched the surface.
For those who haven't entered the Witness Universe yet, now is the perfect time. Because what comes next will build directly upon what has already begun.
So welcome to Issue #11.
Whether you're a longtime supporter or discovering Minds In Design for the very first time, I'm grateful you're here.
Let's step deeper into the mind together.
About Minds In Design
For those joining us for the first time, welcome.
Minds In Design was founded on a simple belief:
Stories should leave fingerprints on the reader. They should linger, they should challenge, they should comfort and they should haunt. Most importantly, they should matter.
Founded by author Makitia Thompson, Minds In Design exists as an independent creative company dedicated to bringing imagination to life through novels, poetry, short stories, companion books, quotation collections, essays, artwork, and immersive fictional universes.
At its core, Minds In Design is less interested in trends and more interested in impact.
Whether the work explores grief, love, identity, horror, resilience, obsession, mystery, healing, or hope, the goal remains the same:
To create something that stays with you.
The company has grown substantially over the past two years and now encompasses multiple interconnected worlds, standalone works, poetry collections, artistic projects, and expanding story universes. If you're looking for stories that trust your intelligence, respect your emotions, and invite you to participate in something larger than a single book, you've come to the right place.
Welcome to Minds In Design.
House Of Witnesses Series Spotlight
One thing has become increasingly clear over the last year:
House Of Witnesses is no longer simply a series.
It is becoming a universe. Three books are currently available and readers continue discovering Clara Roberts and the terrifying system surrounding her.
For those unfamiliar with the series:
Clara Roberts was raised to believe in silence, structure, and obedience. Everything around her appeared normal.
Orderly.
Purposeful.
Safe.
Until she began noticing the cracks. What begins as subtle unease slowly evolves into a horrifying realization that the world shaping her has been carefully designed to control every aspect of identity itself.
House Of Witnesses is a psychological dystopian series built on atmosphere, awareness, indoctrination, surveillance, and the quiet destruction of individuality. It is horror rooted not in monsters hiding under beds, but in systems hiding in plain sight.
The deeper Clara ventures into the truth, the more dangerous awareness becomes. And awareness is only the beginning.
The Witness Universe continues expanding rapidly, and readers can expect a growing collection of companion content in the months ahead.
Plans currently include:
Behind-the-scenes books
Companion stories
Alternate perspectives
Hidden documents
Interviews
Supplemental narratives
Character testimonies
Expanded universe materials
The goal is simple:
To allow readers to experience the Witness Universe from every possible angle. If you haven't entered the world yet, now is the perfect time.
House Of Witnesses is available here:
And with each new release, the mystery grows deeper.
What's New In The M.I.D Universe
The biggest news this month is simple:
The Witness Universe continues expanding faster than ever.
House Of Witnesses now has three books available across major retailers including Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and additional platforms.
Even more exciting?
Book Four is scheduled to arrive this summer.
As the series continues growing, so does its reach. Audiobook editions are currently being prepared and readers will soon be able to experience House Of Witnesses through audio as well. This is something I've wanted to offer for quite some time because psychological horror often takes on an entirely new life when experienced through narration.
The whispers become real and the tension becomes immediate. The atmosphere becomes immersive in a completely different way. Beyond the books themselves, I'm also preparing substantial amounts of free content for readers.
- More blog content is coming soon.
- More worldbuilding.
- More hidden details.
- More mysteries.
And perhaps most importantly:
More opportunities for interaction. One thing I want to do throughout the remainder of 2026 is open the door to reader participation. That means Q&A sessions and behind-the-scenes discussions.
- Questions about characters.
- Questions about writing.
- Questions about worldbuilding.
- Questions about anything.
I also want to hear your ideas. If there is companion content you'd love to see for House Of Witnesses, tell me.
Would you like more interviews?
Character files?
Witness statements?
Alternate perspectives?
Historical records?
Theories?
I'm genuinely interested. Because while these worlds begin in my imagination, they become something larger once readers step inside them.
The Mind's Keepsake
In a world increasingly dominated by speed, notifications, algorithms, and endless scrolling, I've found myself returning to something remarkably simple:
Words.
Not necessarily entire novels, not even entire poems and sometimes it's just a sentence.
A passage.
A thought.
A handful of carefully chosen words capable of changing the direction of someone's day. That idea became the foundation of The Mind's Keepsake series.
For those unfamiliar with the collection, The Mind's Keepsake is a growing series of quotation and passage books designed to be lived with rather than simply read.
These aren't books intended to be rushed through, they are books meant to sit beside your bed.
To travel with you.
To remain on your desk.
To be revisited during difficult seasons. To be opened randomly and discovered all over again.
Each volume gathers reflections, observations, quotations, and passages centered around the human experience.
The response to this series continues to surprise me because readers often tell me something very similar:
They didn't realize how much they needed certain words until they found them. And honestly, I understand that feeling. There are books I've carried with me for years because of a single paragraph. There are poems I've remembered for decades because of one sentence.
Sometimes language becomes a companion, sometimes it becomes a lighthouse and sometimes it becomes proof that another person has felt exactly what we're feeling.
That's what The Mind's Keepsake hopes to offer.
Not answers.
Not solutions.
Simply words worth carrying.
The collection continues expanding and is currently available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, select libraries, and additional retailers. For those searching for meaningful words to return to again and again, The Mind's Keepsake was created for exactly that purpose.
Makitiadesigns on Redbubble
As I mentioned in this issue's Editor's Note, one of the biggest personal developments of 2026 has been my return to visual art.
For nearly two years, writing occupied almost all of my creative energy. And while I don't regret that decision, I began realizing something important:
Art never actually left. It simply waited.
The urge to create visually remained present beneath every story, every world, every character, and every book I built. Now, after two years focused almost exclusively on publishing and expanding Minds In Design, I've decided it's time to bring visual creativity back into the picture.
That's where Makitiadesigns on Redbubble comes in.
My artwork is now available across a wide variety of products including:
Blankets
Stickers
Puzzles
Curtains
T-Shirts
Framed artwork
Prints
Pillows
Phone cases
Wall art
And much more
Most importantly, this isn't a one-time project, new designs are being added regularly. In fact, one of my goals moving forward is to create fresh artwork every week.
For years, readers have experienced my imagination through stories. Now they'll be able to experience it visually as well. Whether you're looking for something decorative, meaningful, artistic, or simply unique, I hope you'll find something that speaks to you.
You can explore my shop here:
This feels like a homecoming creatively. And I'm excited to see where it leads.
Writing Tip
Don't Let Social Media Become Your Boss
Let's talk honestly about something many writers struggle with.
Social media.
For some authors, social media feels like an opportunity. For others, it feels like a full-time job disguised as a marketing strategy. And for many, it becomes a source of anxiety.
Here's something I wish more writers understood:
Social media matters, but it isn't everything. Too many talented writers become trapped in a cycle where every creative decision becomes tied to numbers.
Likes.
Shares.
Views.
Followers.
Engagement.
Growth.
And while those things can be useful, they can also become incredibly destructive when they begin determining your sense of worth. The reality is that social media platforms are constantly changing.
Algorithms change and trends change. Audience behavior changes.
What works today may stop working tomorrow. Much of it exists outside your control. Your writing does not, your stories do not and your creativity does not. That's where your attention belongs.
Use social media, learn it.
Experiment with it and share your work proudly. But do not hand your emotional well-being over to metrics. A post failing is not the same as a book failing. A book failing is not the same as a career failing. And a career facing challenges is not the same as a writer failing.
Protect your creative energy.
Social media should support your work. It should never replace it.
Book Of The Month
A Series of Unfortunate Events
By Lemony Snicket
This month I'm breaking tradition slightly.
Instead of highlighting a single book, I'm highlighting an entire collection. Recently, I sold my hardcover collection of A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Before doing so, I decided to read through the series one final time.
And honestly?
I loved it just as much as I did years ago. Very few series maintain their charm across multiple reads. Even fewer continue feeling unique after so many years. But A Series of Unfortunate Events manages exactly that.
The books are clever without becoming inaccessible. Dark without becoming oppressive. Funny without sacrificing emotional depth. Whimsical while simultaneously devastating.
It's a balancing act very few authors manage successfully. What stands out most to me now is how confidently the series embraces its own identity. It never tries to be something it isn't.
It doesn't chase trends.
It doesn't soften its darker themes.
It trusts readers.
And because of that, it remains memorable. I also continue to have enormous appreciation for the film adaptation. There are certain adaptations that capture the spirit of a story perfectly, and in my opinion, the movie accomplished exactly that.
Whether you're revisiting the series or discovering it for the first time, I genuinely believe it's one of the most enjoyable reading experiences available.
Sometimes great storytelling simply endures.
And this collection is proof of that.
Makitia's Writing Corner
Are You A Series Author Or A Standalone Author?
This is a question more writers should ask themselves.
Not because one answer is better than the other. But because understanding your natural storytelling instincts can save you years of frustration. Some writers are naturally standalone storytellers.
They love completion.
Resolution.
- A beginning.
- A middle.
- An end.
They enjoy creating a contained emotional experience and then moving on to something entirely different.
There's tremendous power in that.
Standalone authors often build incredibly diverse catalogs because every project allows them to explore new ideas, new characters, and new worlds.
Then there are series authors.
Series authors rarely stop thinking about their worlds. One story becomes two, two becomes five and five becomes an entire universe. They find themselves constantly asking:
What happened before this?
What happens next?
Who else exists here?
What secrets haven't been discovered yet?
I'm increasingly realizing that I belong somewhere in the middle.
I love standalones. Many of my books are complete experiences that begin and end within a single story. But I also find myself drawn toward larger worlds.
Burrington became larger than a single book.
House Of Witnesses became larger than a single book.
And now both continue expanding. If you're struggling to determine which type of author you are, pay attention to your curiosity.
When you finish a story, what happens next?
Do you immediately want to create something new?
Or do you find yourself wanting to stay?
Neither answer is wrong. But understanding your instincts can help you build a writing career that aligns with who you actually are. Instead of who you think you're supposed to be.
Free Content From Minds In Design
One thing I never want readers to feel is that every doorway into my work requires a purchase.
Stories should be accessible. Curiosity should be rewarded. And readers should have opportunities to explore before committing to larger projects. That's why Minds In Design continues offering free content through the blog.
Available content includes:
Free short stories
Publishing insights
Writing advice
Behind-the-scenes discussions
Companion content
Worldbuilding materials
Creative essays
Industry reflections
For readers interested in House Of Witnesses, Where Time Can't Exist, or the broader M.I.D universe, the blog serves as a gateway into everything I'm building.
It's also where many upcoming Q&As will live. So if you've ever wanted a closer look behind the curtain, that's where you'll find it.
The goal has always been simple:
Provide meaningful content whether someone purchases a book or not. Because stories should be shared whenever possible. And curiosity should always have a place to begin.
Upcoming Projects
If you've followed Minds In Design for any length of time, you've probably noticed a pattern.
I rarely sit still creatively. The moment one project is completed, another begins taking shape.
- A notebook fills.
- A new world appears.
- A character starts speaking.
- A mystery begins forming.
And before long, another story is demanding to be told.
As exciting as that can be, I've made a conscious decision regarding the remainder of 2026 and moving into 2027:
My primary focus is House Of Witnesses.
Not because other projects aren't important and not because other stories aren't calling. But because House Of Witnesses has become something much larger than I originally imagined.
When I first conceived the series, I believed I was creating a psychological horror story. What I eventually realized was that I was creating a universe.
A system. A collection of interconnected narratives, histories, documents, testimonies, and mysteries that stretch far beyond any single novel. And now it's time to explore that universe fully.
Witnessed Through Fire
The next major installment in the series is:
Witnessed Through Fire
Book Four in the House Of Witnesses series.
Without revealing too much, this installment pushes deeper into the systems surrounding Clara Roberts and the structures operating beneath the surface of the Witness Universe.
Questions that have lingered since the beginning of the series begin moving closer to answers. And with those answers come even larger mysteries.
Readers who have been following Clara's journey should prepare themselves.
The world is about to become much larger. And much more dangerous.
Expanding The Witness Universe
One thing I'm particularly excited about is the companion content currently in development. Many readers have told me they want to spend more time inside these worlds.
They want additional perspectives.
Additional context.
Additional mysteries. So that's exactly what I'm building.
Upcoming companion projects include:
Alternate POV Stories
One of the most fascinating aspects of any fictional world is realizing the story you've been reading isn't the only story taking place.
There are always other people.
Other witnesses.
Other survivors.
Other perspectives.
Some of those perspectives are coming soon. Readers will have opportunities to experience major events through entirely different eyes. And sometimes those perspectives may reveal things Clara never saw.
Hidden Interviews
If you've followed my Gregg Thorton projects, you already know how much I enjoy interview-driven storytelling. The Witness Universe is perfectly suited for this approach.
Hidden interviews will allow readers to hear directly from individuals connected to events surrounding the series. Some may be reliable. Some may not.
The challenge will be determining which is which.
Testimonies
What happens after people survive extraordinary events?
How do they explain what happened?
Can they explain what happened?
Witness testimonies will explore those questions through documents, statements, recollections, and fragmented accounts. The truth may exist somewhere within them.
Or nowhere at all.
Deleted Endings & Alternate Outcomes
I've always been fascinated by roads not taken, scenes that almost happened.
Conclusions that nearly existed. Some of those discarded possibilities will eventually become available as companion content.
Not because they are canon. But because they reveal how stories evolve. Sometimes understanding what a story almost became can deepen appreciation for what it ultimately became.
The Future Of Where Time Can't Exist
Many readers continue asking about Burrington and the future of the Where Time Can't Exist series.
The answer remains the same:
The story is far from finished. Companion content continues to be developed and released. Additional mysteries continue to emerge. And there is still much more readers have yet to learn about Burrington.
However, the third and final main installment will require time.
I want to ensure it receives the attention it deserves. At present, the final book is expected to arrive either late 2026 or early 2027.
The ending of a series matters.
Especially one that has occupied so much of my imagination.
I don't want to rush it. I want to make sure the conclusion feels earned. Until then, readers can continue exploring companion materials and behind-the-scenes content that expand the world while the final chapter takes shape.
Looking Forward
The next year represents a fascinating period for Minds In Design.
- Books.
- Audiobooks.
- Art.
- Companion content.
- Expanded universes.
- Reader interaction.
- New mysteries.
And perhaps a few surprises I haven't revealed yet. If you've been here since the beginning, thank you.
If you're new, welcome.
The journey is only becoming more interesting.
Connect With Me
One of my favorite parts of building Minds In Design has been connecting directly with readers, writers, artists, and creatives from around the world.
Stories may begin alone.
But they rarely stay that way. If you'd like to keep up with new releases, behind-the-scenes content, creative updates, artwork, writing advice, or simply see what I'm currently working on, you can find me here:
https://ca.pinterest.com/Mindsindesign/
https://www.instagram.com/mindsndesign?
https://www.facebook.com/share/16s3hUHuLB/?mibextid=qi2Omg
And of course, don't forget to explore:
The Minds In Design Store
The growing home of stories, art, imagination, mystery, and creativity.
Whether you're interested in novels, poetry, companion books, quotation collections, artwork, blog content, or upcoming projects, Minds In Design continues expanding every month.
I genuinely enjoy hearing from readers.
- Questions.
- Theories.
- Thoughts about characters.
- Favorite scenes.
- Ideas for companion content.
- Creative discussions.
They're all welcome. After all, stories become much more interesting once readers enter the conversation. Online Store
Parting Words
When I founded Minds In Design two years ago, I had a vision.
Not a perfectly detailed business plan.
Not a complete roadmap.
Just a vision.
A belief that stories mattered. A belief that imagination mattered. A belief that creating meaningful work was worth pursuing even when the path forward felt uncertain.
Since then, Minds In Design has grown into something larger than I ever expected. What began with books has expanded into worlds. Those worlds are now becoming universes.
And now, for the first time in two years, visual art is becoming part of that journey once again. That return feels significant.
Not because I'm abandoning writing.
Far from it.
Writing remains the foundation of everything I do. But creativity was never meant to live in only one form.
Sometimes a story becomes a novel it becomes a poem, sometimes it becomes a painting and sometimes it becomes a single sentence that stays with someone for years.
The medium changes. The purpose remains.
To create something meaningful. To create something lasting. To create something that reminds people they aren't alone in what they feel, fear, wonder about, or hope for. As I look ahead, I'm excited.
Excited about House Of Witnesses.
Excited about audiobooks.
Excited about returning to visual art.
Excited about the companion content still to come.
Excited about the readers who continue discovering these stories every day.
Most of all, I'm excited about possibility. Because every story begins as possibility.
- Every book.
- Every painting.
- Every world.
- Every idea.
And somewhere right now, the next one is waiting. Thank you for spending part of your time with me through Issue #11 of The M.I.D Newsletter: Where In The Mind?
Thank you for reading. Thank you for supporting independent creativity. Thank you for believing that stories still matter. And thank you for continuing to step into the worlds I create.
Until next time,
Makitia Thompson
Founder & Creative Director
Minds In Design
"Where imagination is brought to life, one story at a time."
#Makitia #MindsInDesign #HouseOfWitnesses #WhereTimeCantExist #TheMiduniverse #MidStories #UntilTimeRemembers #MakitiaThompson #TheWitnessUniverse
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