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About Terence Ang

Award-Winning Author, Stroke Survivor and Aphasia Advocate

Terence Ang is an award-winning Singaporean author, artist, stroke survivor and aphasia advocate whose work explores resilience, recovery, identity and the transformative power of creative expression.

After experiencing a haemorrhagic stroke in August 2020, Terence developed aphasia, a language disorder that profoundly affected his ability to communicate. Although he has made significant progress in his recovery, aphasia continues to influence the way he speaks and expresses himself.

Writing became an important part of Terence’s rehabilitation—not only as a way of processing what had happened to him, but also as a means of reconnecting with himself and communicating with others. Through illustrated memoir, narrative non-fiction, graphic storytelling and poetry, he shares deeply personal experiences of silence, struggle, vulnerability, acceptance, healing and renewal.

His books offer encouragement to stroke survivors, people living with aphasia, caregivers and anyone navigating profound life changes. Through his writing and advocacy, Terence also seeks to challenge the misconception that difficulty speaking means difficulty thinking.

Books by Terence Ang

A Cry in the Dark

Terence’s debut illustrated memoir is a deeply personal account of his journey following his stroke. Through honest reflection and evocative illustrations, the book traces his movement from confusion, fear and despair towards resilience and renewed purpose.

A Cry in the Dark was nominated for Best Illustrated Non-Fiction and Best Cover Design at the 2023 Singapore Book Awards.

Emerging from the Dark

In this powerful follow-up, Terence brings together the experiences of stroke survivors and caregivers, sharing their challenges, achievements and different paths towards recovery.

The book has received several international accolades, including the Firebird Book Award and Literary Titan Gold Award. It was also recognised by the Independent Press Award and the NYC Big Book Award as a Distinguished Favorite.

Strength in Motion: The Next Chapter of Stroke

Strength in Motion examines the continuing journey of rehabilitation, with a particular focus on physical movement, emotional resilience and rebuilding confidence after stroke.

Combining personal experience with practical rehabilitation guidance and exercise demonstrations, the book encourages survivors to continue moving forward at their own pace.

It received recognition from Literary Titan and was named a 2024 NYC Big Book Award Distinguished Favorite in the Self-Help: Motivational category.

THE BOY & THE MAN

A graphic novel inspired by A Cry in the Dark, THE BOY & THE MAN brings Terence’s journey to life through striking illustrations and reflective storytelling.

Told through the relationship between a boy and a man, the book explores vulnerability, memory, fear and the rediscovery of life in a world that suddenly feels unfamiliar yet remains filled with possibility.

The book has received honours from the Literary Titan Book Award, The BookFest® and the International Impact Book Awards. It also became an Amazon #1 Bestseller and was featured on a New York City billboard for World Stroke Day 2024.

It was subsequently highlighted on the Nasdaq digital billboard in Times Square as one of the “15 Must-Read Books” for the 2025 reading list.

Thunderstroke: A Poetry Memoir Inspired by a True Story

A critically acclaimed poetry memoir, Thunderstroke transforms Terence’s experiences of stroke and aphasia into emotionally resonant verse.

Through themes of silence, identity, vulnerability, recovery and hope, the collection invites readers into an intimate journey of loss, resilience and personal transformation.

Thunderstroke was named a 2025 NYC Big Book Award Distinguished Favorite in Poetry: Journeys, Memory, and the Self. It was also recognised as a Distinguished Favorite at the 2026 Independent Press Award in both the Poetry and Inspiration categories.

The book achieved Amazon #1 Bestseller status across multiple categories and was selected as a Printed Word Reviews TOP Pick.

Thunderstroke and Terence were also featured on a large-scale billboard in Times Square, New York City, highlighting the book’s literary and social impact. The collection has received further international recognition from Literary Titan, The BookFest®, the International Impact Book Awards and the 2025 London, Los Angeles and Paris Book Festivals.

《雷霆一击》— Thunderstroke Chinese Edition

Following the success of the English edition, Thunderstroke was translated into Chinese and published as 《雷霆一击》 in 2025.

This important milestone extended Terence’s poetry and message of resilience to Chinese-speaking readers. The book became a 畅销图书—bestselling title—at Union Book 友联书局 in Singapore and subsequently entered a second printing.

The Chinese edition was also featured at the Taipei International Book Exhibition in February 2026.

Brokenness Becomes Beautiful: Inspiring Pieces of Poetry

Terence’s sixth book, Brokenness Becomes Beautiful: Inspiring Pieces of Poetry, is available as an audiobook, ebook, paperback and hardcover.

The poetry collection explores eight interconnected themes: self-discovery, self-awareness, self-acceptance, self-love, self-healing, self-care, self-growth and self-empowerment.

Written from Terence’s lived experience of stroke and aphasia, the poems reflect the frustration of losing parts of oneself, the courage required to confront change and the gradual discovery that brokenness does not erase beauty, dignity or purpose.

The audiobook is narrated using an AI-generated digital recreation of Terence’s own voice. Created using recordings made after his stroke, the digital voice enables him to present his poetry in a deeply personal form despite the changes aphasia has made to his natural speech.

Described as a groundbreaking and world-first achievement, Brokenness Becomes Beautiful brings together poetry, aphasia advocacy and human-centred artificial intelligence. It is believed to be the first poetry audiobook of its kind narrated through an AI-generated version of the voice of an author living with aphasia.

For Terence, the audiobook represents far more than the use of new technology. It is an act of reclaiming his voice, identity and ability to connect with others.

The audiobook is available through ElevenReader and Spotify, while the ebook, paperback and hardcover editions allow readers to experience the collection in their preferred formats.

Poetry on the International Stage

In 2026, Brokenness Becomes Beautiful and Thunderstroke reached international audiences through their presentation at major literary and publishing events in Chicago, New York City and Dublin.

Together, the two poetry books represent connected stages of Terence’s recovery. Thunderstroke captures the shock, silence and struggle that followed his stroke, while Brokenness Becomes Beautiful reflects his continuing journey towards self-acceptance, healing, growth and empowerment.

American Library Association Annual Conference 2026

Brokenness Becomes Beautiful and Thunderstroke were showcased at the American Library Association Annual Conference, held from 26 to 29 June 2026 in Chicago.

The conference brought award-winning authors together with librarians, educators, publishing professionals and readers from across the United States. It provided an important platform for discovering new books, exchanging ideas and connecting meaningful stories with the librarians and educators who introduce them to wider communities.

Publisher Ted Olczak said:

“We’re incredibly proud to showcase these talented authors and connect their stories with the librarians and educators who champion great books every day.”

Among the award-winning titles and groundbreaking new releases presented at the conference was Brokenness Becomes Beautiful. Its audiobook introduced audiences to an innovative example of how artificial intelligence can support creative expression and enable a person living with aphasia to reclaim a recognisable version of his voice.

The book’s presentation at the American Library Association Annual Conference marked its first major public launch. Its message of healing, courage and hope reached librarians, educators and readers from across the country, helping Brokenness Becomes Beautiful become one of the notable new discoveries showcased at ALA.

15th Annual New York City Poetry Festival

Brokenness Becomes Beautiful and Thunderstroke were featured at the 15th Annual New York City Poetry Festival, held on 18 and 19 July 2026 at Governors Island in New York City.

Presented as part of a curated selection by Printed Word Reviews, the two books highlighted the full arc of Terence’s lived experience—from the disruption and silence caused by stroke and aphasia to resilience, healing, renewed identity and hope.

The festival brought together poets, authors, artists and literary communities to celebrate the diversity and transformative power of contemporary poetry.

Their inclusion introduced international audiences to Terence’s distinctive poetic voice and his advocacy for greater awareness and understanding of stroke and aphasia.

International Dublin Writers’ Festival

Brokenness Becomes Beautiful and Thunderstroke are also being featured in connection with the International Dublin Writers’ Festival, taking place from 14 to 16 August 2026 at Trinity College Dublin.

The festival’s 2026 theme, “The Future of Story,” explores how artificial intelligence, technology and new forms of media are influencing storytelling, publishing, creativity and the evolving role of the author.

Terence’s work fits naturally within this conversation. By using an AI-generated digital version of his own voice to narrate Brokenness Becomes Beautiful, he demonstrates how technology can be used not to replace the human storyteller, but to preserve identity, restore personal expression and help someone living with aphasia be heard.

The presentation of his books in Chicago, New York City and Dublin marks an important milestone in Terence’s journey as a Singaporean author and aphasia advocate. It also brings greater international visibility to stroke recovery, creative resilience and the compassionate use of technology to help people reconnect with their voices.

From Writing to Film, Theatre and Visual Art

Having established himself as a literary voice of resilience, Terence has expanded his creative journey into film, theatre and visual art.

He appeared in the short film Can You Hear Me?, which draws upon real experiences of living with aphasia and explores the emotional distance that can arise when a person knows what they want to say but cannot easily express it.

The film premiered on 13 December 2025 at Singapore Management University. It has since been entered into international short-film festivals in the United States, Japan, Indonesia, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom and Korea.

Terence is also developing creative projects for the stage and visual-art installations that explore silence, expression, identity, human connection and the emotional realities of rebuilding life after stroke.

Through his books, poetry, art, film and advocacy, Terence continues to challenge assumptions about aphasia and disability. His work reminds audiences that difficulty speaking does not mean difficulty thinking—and that a changed voice can still carry courage, creativity, meaning and hope.

With an unwavering commitment to using creative expression as a force for connection and understanding, Terence Ang continues to demonstrate that even after life changes unexpectedly, a meaningful new beginning remains possible.