My heart is very full today.

I’m honoured to share that Thunderstroke: A Poetry Memoir Inspired by a True Story has been selected as a Finalist in the 2025 IAN Book of the Year Awards (Poetry Category).

The email was brief, signed by William R. Potter, Founder of the IAN Book of the Year Awards — but for me, it carried the weight of the last few years: stroke, aphasia, fear, frustration, and the long, slow journey of learning to speak and write again.

For someone living with aphasia to have a poetry book recognised on an international stage, in a world where millions of books are available and thousands more are added every month… it feels almost unbelievable.

What touches me most is not the title of “finalist”, but what it represents:

that a voice once broken can still be heard.

I’m especially moved by these words from Evelyn Khoo, my speech therapist and the founder of Aphasia SG:

“I have seen Terence’s journey from patient to author, and I could not be prouder of how far he has come. His words reflect not only his courage, but also his generosity in uplifting others who walk a similar path with stroke and aphasia. Terence has found a way to turn fragments of speech into poetry that exudes strength and inspires hope.”

— Evelyn Khoo, speech therapist & founder of @aphasia.sg

This recognition is for:

James, who has walked beside me through every setback and small victory

My family and friends, who never stopped believing

The stroke and aphasia community, who remind me every day what resilience looks like

Every reader who has found a piece of their own pain and hope inside Thunderstroke

To William R. Potter (Founder of The 2025 IAN Book of the Year Awards) and the IAN team — thank you for seeing the heart behind this book.

And to everyone who has journeyed with me:

this finalist announcement is not just for me.

It is for all of us who were struck down, learned to stand again, and are still finding new ways to speak.

Thunderstroke began as my story.

Today, it feels like our shared victory.