A Cry in the Dark: A Stroke Survivor’s Story of Hope will always have a very special place in my heart.

It was my debut book — the book through which many people first came to know me and my story. It began with one of the darkest chapters of my life: the haemorrhagic stroke I suffered in August 2020, the loss of function on my right side, #aphasia, and the long physical and emotional journey that followed.

What makes the book even more personal is that I created its illustrations using my recovering right hand — the very hand that had become non-functional after my stroke.

I could never have imagined then where this first book would take me. It opened the door for me to continue writing and sharing, eventually leading to more books, including my two poetry books, Thunderstroke and Brokenness Becomes Beautiful.

That is why I am especially happy to see A Cry in the Dark representing Singapore once again — this time at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2026, taking place from 7–11 October 2026 at 

Frankfurter Buchmesse Frankfurt, Germany.

The Singapore Pavilion features local publishing voices and official delegates from Singapore. I am grateful to the National Arts National ARTS Council (NAC) for including 17 titles from Focus Publishing and Straits Times Press, part of the SPH Media family, at the Pavilion — and very glad that A Cry in the Dark is one of those 17 books.

The book was also a finalist in two categories at the 2023 Singapore Book Awards:

Best Illustrated Non-Fiction Title and Best Cover Design.

From drawing with a recovering hand after stroke… to seeing that same book displayed internationally in Frankfurt.

Sometimes the first step becomes the beginning of a journey you could never have planned. 

Thank you, 

Maureen Xuefen Ho , for sending me these lovely photographs from Frankfurt. It means so much to see the book there.

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