Award-Winning Author, Stroke Survivor, and Advocate
Terence Ang is an award-winning author, artist, and stroke survivor whose work explores resilience, recovery, and the power of creative expression. After suffering a stroke in 2020, Terence experienced aphasia, a language disorder that profoundly affected his ability to communicate. While he has since regained much of his expressive ability, writing remains central to his healing process—serving as both a form of recovery and a way to connect with and inspire others navigating adversity.
Through memoir, poetry, and visual storytelling, Terence shares lived experiences of silence, struggle, and renewal, offering hope to stroke survivors, caregivers, and anyone facing profound life change.
Books by Terence Ang
A Cry in the Dark
Terence’s debut book is a deeply personal account of his journey from confusion and despair to resilience after stroke. Through raw reflection, it sheds light on the mental, physical, and emotional realities of recovery. The book was nominated for Best Illustrated Non-Fiction and Best Cover Design at the 2023 Singapore Book Awards.
Emerging from the Dark
A powerful follow-up, this book features inspiring stories from stroke survivors and caregivers, sharing both struggles and triumphs. It has received multiple international accolades, including the Firebird Book Award, Literary Titan Gold Award, and recognition from the Hollywood Book Festival, Readers’ Favorite International Book Award, NYC Big Book Award, and Global Book Awards.
Strength in Motion: The Next Chapter of Stroke
This book continues Terence’s exploration of life after stroke, focusing on mental resilience, emotional healing, and the will to keep moving forward. It was named a 2024 NYC Big Book Award Distinguished Favorite in Self-Help: Motivational.
The Boy and The Man
A graphic novel adaptation of A Cry in the Dark, this work brings Terence’s story to life through striking visuals and reflective storytelling. Told through the lens of his inner child, it captures the rediscovery of life in a world that suddenly feels unfamiliar yet full of possibility.
The book has won the Literary Titan Book Award, The BookFest Award, and the International Impact Book Award, became an Amazon #1 Bestseller, and was featured on a New York City billboard for World Stroke Day 2024. It was also highlighted on the NASDAQ board in Times Square as one of the 15 Must-Read Books for the 2025 TBR List.
Thunderstroke: A Poetry Memoir Inspired by a True Story
A critically acclaimed poetry memoir, Thunderstroke blends lived experience with spare, emotionally resonant verse. Through themes of silence, identity, recovery, and hope, Terence invites readers into an intimate journey of resilience and transformation.
The book is a 2025 NYC Big Book Award Distinguished Favorite in Poetry: Journeys, Memory, and the Self, and a Distinguished Favorite at the INDEPENDENT PRESS AWARD® in both Poetry and Inspiration categories.
It achieved Amazon #1 Bestseller status across multiple categories and was selected as a Printed Word Reviews (PWR) TOP Pick for the season.
In a rare honour, Thunderstroke and Terence Ang were featured on a large-scale Times Square billboard in New York City, spotlighting works of exceptional literary and social impact. The book has also received international recognition from the Literary Titan Book Award, The BookFest Award, International Impact Book Award, 2025 London Book Festival, and 2025 Los Angeles Book Festival.
《雷霆一击》(Thunderstroke – Chinese Edition)
Following the success of the English edition, Thunderstroke was translated into Chinese and released in 2025. This bilingual milestone extended Terence’s message across cultures and languages. The book became a 畅销图书 (Bestseller) at Union Book 友联书局, resonating strongly with Chinese-speaking readers in Singapore.
A New Chapter: From Writing to Film and Stage
Having established himself as a literary voice of resilience, Terence is now expanding into film and theatre.
His short film Can You Hear Me? will make its world premiere on 13 December 2025 at Singapore Management University (SMU). Based on real experiences, the film bridges silence and understanding—giving voice to those who struggle to be heard.
In 2026, his stage play inspired by the emotional landscape of living with aphasia will bring his story to the theatre, exploring silence, expression, and human connection. The film has been entered into international short-film festivals including AAIFF (USA), SSFF (Japan), BIFF (Indonesia), MFA (Germany), ACIFF (Italy), LSFF (London), and IFF (Korea), with upcoming submissions to Cannes, Singapore International Film Festival (SGIFF), and Mental Health Film Festival Singapore (MHFF).
With an unwavering spirit and a commitment to advocacy through creative expression, Terence Ang continues to show that even in the darkest moments, a new beginning is always possible.
About Terence Ang
Award-Winning Author, Stroke Survivor, and Advocate
Terence Ang is an award-winning author, artist, and stroke survivor whose work explores resilience, recovery, and the power of creative expression. After suffering a stroke in 2020, Terence experienced aphasia, a language disorder that profoundly affected his ability to communicate. While he has since regained much of his expressive ability, writing remains central to his...
Thunderstroke: A Poetry Memoir Inspired by a True Story is a profound exploration of life’s most pivotal and transformative moments. Through poignant and evocative poetry, this book captures the raw, unfiltered experience of standing at the edge of a life-altering precipice—the moment when everything you once knew shifts irrevocably.
“Given a choice, I would have dressed for the occasion. I dressed for every occasion, even nightmares. But this time… I was caught unaware… I was no longer in control.”
Terence never dreamt he would suffer a stroke. After all, didn’t strokes happen only to old people? Terence did not die, he survived. But there is a difference between just...
Thank you, Stroke Onward, for sharing my story so thoughtfully.
Looking back at 2020, I never imagined how much my life would change. Aphasia took away something I once took for granted, my ability to communicate easily. There were moments of doubt, frustration, and even questioning myself.
But over time, I realised that healing does not come from blame. It comes from acceptance, reflection, and taking small steps forward each day.
Writing became that step for me. It gave me a voice when words...
I am deeply honoured that one of my works was featured today at Night of Aphasia Arts 2026: More Than Words, organised by the National Aphasia Association.
After my stroke and the onset of aphasia, I had to relearn how to communicate. When speech became uncertain, I turned to writing and drawing. What began as therapy slowly became my voice. That is why being part of this event means so much to me.
This event was a powerful celebration of creativity, connection, and the many ways people with...
Michiko invited me for brunch at Plaza Singapura. We ate, laughed, talked. Then we decided to walk all the way to Ngee Ann City. It wasn’t a short walk, but sometimes the best conversations happen when you’re just walking side by side.
We went into Kinokuniya Main Store @kinokuniya_singapore — and there it was.
My book.
《雷霆一击 Thunderstroke》 sitting quietly on the shelf.
I don’t know how to describe that feeling. Every time...
