Written to be a fresh entry point for readers, Arcbeatle Press is excited to announce that the Cwej: The Series story Shutter Speed has rocketed to being its most-read story of all time, surpassing previous hits like their 10th Anniversary novel And Today, You, Academy 27 stand out short story Into the Light, and the novel 10,000 Dawns. Released as an Easter special, the story has nonetheless had legs. “It was a huge and wonderful surprise to see how many readers connected with this story and have spread the word about it—and for more people to be reading in the last few weeks than in the month after it came out,” said lead writer James Wylder. “It's an honor to have gathered such an amazing team of writers who brought Hughes High to life in a way I couldn’t on my own.”

Such writers include James Hornby (SIGNET), Aristide Twain (The Crew of the Copper Coloured Cupids), Aidan Mason (10,000 Dawns), Theta Mandel (Zadellin), Thien Valdram (The Interstellar Sleuth), Molly Warton (Academy 27), and Cwej range editor Hunter O’Connell with graphic design by Callum Phillpott. “Writing for Cwej: The Series is a dream come true, and I’m honoured to have played a part in such a fun story, and one that has become such a hit!” Theta Mandel said. 

Readers enjoyed the dynamic between the story’s two leads, Chris Cwej and Jhe Sang Mi, something the writers were also eager to dig into, such as Thien Valdram: “I have been fascinated with Chris since the New Adventures, Dead Romance and The Book of the War, so it's a privilege to have been able to contribute in my own way, if briefly, to that mythology. Especially in being able to touch on the developing mentor role he exhibits with Jhe Sang Mi.” Touching on their mutual struggles with mental health, their adventures took them into conflict with the mysterious Flickers. But there was something more to this story.

Why would one story have so many contributors? Because there was more to enjoy than met the eye! Links scattered through the tale take readers to further stories, in-universe documents, encyclopedia entries, and more. “It was a real treat to be able to have the story branch out, and dig these rabbit holes for readers to explore. That there’s stuff bubbling under the surface wasn’t even subtext!” Wylder said. These expansions provided whole new avenues of storytelling. “Exploring how strange it would be for Chris to teach a lesson when he so obviously doesn’t belong anywhere near a classroom was great to explore, especially from the point of view of another member of staff – I’m sure his students would be happy with bunking off for an hour each day!” said James Hornby.

“That’s the beauty of stories. Even after 30 years, there’s always more to do with a great character — whether that’s digging into their past, or moving the story forward as Cwej: The Series principally does. The very structure of Shutter Speed, whose bonus material grew organically from the seed of Wylder’s wonderful original tale, is a lovely encapsulation of the very kind of storytelling magic which brought us all here in the first place,” said Aristide Twain

Arcbeatle Press is honored by the attention and love readers have given their story, and will be excited to bring you more later this year with their Cwej30 celebrations, and their novels Dread Mnemosyne, When Winter Comes, and The Lost Fictionaut. “It’s an absolute honour to have gotten to contribute to this beautiful story, and to have been able to play around in the Cwej sandbox a little. It’s wonderful that people have been enjoying the story,” said Molly Warton.

"I'd like to personally thank our readers, you make all this possible, and we couldn't keep doing this without you. So, thank you," Wylder said.

But the team hasn't forgotten what really matters with Cwej either, as Mandel says: “Most of all, I am proud of being able to say that I have contributed to the debate on how Cwej’s name is really pronounced. This is, of course, the single greatest feat of my entire life. Yippee!”