Terence Ang

Author
Terence Ang

Terence Ang

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 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.

Books

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Thunderstroke : A Poetry Memoir Inspired by a True Story

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.

Written for...

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Thunderstroke 《雷霆一击》

"一部动人的诗性回忆录,追随 Terence Ang 自突如其来的、改变一生的中风之震撼出发,迈向来之不易的清明、坚韧与希望。"

在《雷霆一击》中,Terence Ang 为危机瞬间命名——那一刻,中风重塑了人生,如“雷霆一击”:骤至、撼人、难忘。诗性回忆录由黑暗启程:语言失落,身体陌生。在“黑暗中的呼喊”里,他以简练而亲密的诗行,承载静默、惊惶与孤绝之痛——也守住最初的一缕决心。

“雷霆一击”是中心篇章,见证极限与意志的碰撞。诗作描摹复元的慢工:再学习、再信任自己的身体,让希望以点滴方式回归。

最终,“光”并非妥协,而是更稳的节律:留心小小的慈悲,尊重耐心,于日常之中寻得意义。

贯穿三章的“间章”进一步加深叙事:中风与失语症的“无声风暴”;在新加坡文化语境中自立与求助的拉扯;...

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A Cry In the Dark: A Stroke Survivor’s Story of Hope and Recovery

“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...

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Blog


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With gratitude to Grassroots Book Room and Monsoon Books for giving 《雷霆一击》 a home overseas

Some moments arrive quietly — and then they stay with you.

I am deeply grateful and genuinely moved that my book 《雷霆一击》 Thunderstroke is being featured by 季風帶(Monsoon Books)台北 at the Taipei International Book Exhibition 2026, taking place from 3 to 8 February.

To see my book standing on a shelf in Taipei feels surreal. What began as a very personal journey — shaped by...


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Yesterday, I went to Punggol Library with no expectations.

Just a simple visit. Just another day.

And then I saw it.

My new book — Thunderstroke 《雷霆一击》 — sitting quietly on the shelf.

No announcement.

No spotlight.

Just there.

Among other books.

Waiting for a reader.

I stood there for a moment longer than I expected to. I didn’t rush. I didn’t take it lightly. Because this moment meant more than seeing my name on a cover....


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Some books are written with confidence.

This one was written with pauses, fragments, and a lot of courage.

Thunderstroke: A Poetry Memoir Inspired by a True Story was born after my stroke, when words no longer came easily and silence became part of my everyday life. Poetry became a way for me to speak again — slowly, imperfectly, honestly.

To have this book recognised as a 2026 Distinguished Favorite (Inspiration) by the Independent Press Award means more...

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