Fiction Section Index
How to navigate the fiction section
Hello and welcome to the Fiction Section of Notes from the Town Hermit, a space dedicated to lifting up stories that light a way through the Shadow
In our inaugural story written by my son, Renley Chu, two characters send letters back and forth through a glass bottle. Across turbulent seas, they write. Despite impossible circumstances, their words always reach “the right destination”—the right person. And through this, they are saved.
People ask all the time, can stories save?
For those of us who have ever read a book that we now carry as a talisman against life’s storms to this very day, we answer with a resounding, “Yes.”
Such is my dream for this publication; that it would be a home for stories acting as lanterns lighting the Shadow.
What to expect
If you would only like to receive emails for fiction, go to the “Manage your subscription” page and under Notifications, toggle the setting for “Fiction.”
Free Subscriber
Current series are free while they are ongoing. They will go behind a paywall once completed, but are always available for purchase at online retailers.
Paid Subscriber
If you choose to upgrade, you get:
Stories behind the stories and writing process
The EPUB and/or PDF version of anything I publish here, following completion
My nonfiction personal essays, should you opt in to my main publication
Serial Fiction
1Revenir by Renley Chu and Tiffany Chu (current): A short story anthology exploring the human experience and delving deep into themes of love, loss, and the search for meaning. Written in a haunting, lyrical style and set in a single fantasy world, this collection is for readers looking for character-driven stories with strong emotional resonance.
The Misadventures of Endora Pan (current): Endora's life is a recipe for disaster: one part corporate job, two parts baking business, and a dash of clumsiness. When she crashes into Dominic, a FedEx driver with dry wit, it's hardly love at first sight. But fate keeps throwing them together. As Endora juggles her business and romantic hesitations, she learns that love, like baking, requires taking risks and embracing the mess. A funny tale of faith, friendship, and finding love in unexpected places.
Short Stories
A Palette of Vengeance: In this psychological thriller, a young woman seeks revenge against the art professor who destroyed her mother's dreams. A chilling exploration of justice, power, and the lengths we go for those we love.
The World Dies First by Renley Chu and Tiffany Chu: Dive into a thought-provoking journey of self-discovery and mortality in “The World Dies First.” This haunting short story challenges perceptions of time and existence.
Equinox: A haunting retelling of the Chloris & Zephyrus myth exploring trauma, agency & transformation through dual perspectives of captor and captive.
A Girl Made of Time: In a kingdom where nobles hoard food and peasants starve, ill-tempered Carys discovers strange mushrooms glowing like fallen stars. But following their light into the forest after dark breaks every rule she knows.
Saved! Hope to make my way through some of these soon.
This is awesome and such a good way to set it up! I had considered adding some fiction but didn’t realize you could allow readers to segment it that way. That’s super helpful, thank you! 🙏 🙌