2026 NYC Big Book Award Winner
Featured in the Printed Word Reviews magazine
New audiobook by stroke survivor and author Terence Ang, who lives with aphasia, using an AI-generated digital version of his own voice
Terence Ang joins fellow stroke survivors for Stroke Onward's virtual "Celebrating You Beyond Stroke" event on World Stroke Day, October 29, 2026
NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, September 29, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — From the cover of Printed Word Reviews and New York’s Times Square to an international stroke survivor celebration and an art installation at Gardens by the Bay, Ang transforms October into a month dedicated to raising awareness about stroke, aphasia, and life beyond recovery.
As the global community observes World Stroke Day on October 29th, Singaporean author, artist, stroke survivor, and aphasia advocate Terence Ang will participate in a lineup of events throughout October 2026 that merge publishing, technology, art, and firsthand experience.
Half a dozen years after a hemorrhagic stroke left him with aphasia and physical limitations, Ang is leveraging the month to spotlight not only stroke recovery but also the journey that follows: redefining identity, discovering meaning, developing new methods of expression, and remaining active in the world.
The October schedule carries Ang’s narrative from the pages of an international literary magazine to Times Square in New York City, an online global stroke community, and finally to an immersive art display at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore.
“World Stroke Day reminds us of what stroke can change, but I also want people to see what can continue,” said Ang. “Aphasia changed my voice, but it did not silence me. Creativity, technology, community and the people around me have helped me find different ways to be heard.”
Cover Story: Printed Word Reviews
Ang is featured on the cover of the most recent edition of Printed Word Reviews (PWR), an independent literary magazine serving authors, publishers, and the broader independent publishing community.
The publication includes a multi-page cover story on Ang titled: "Terence Ang and the Power of Being Heard"
The article follows his path from his 2020 stroke and aphasia diagnosis through writing, advocacy, and the creation of his audiobook "Brokenness Becomes Beautiful: Inspiring Pieces of Poetry."
Ang is also mentioned in Publisher Ted Olczak’s Publisher’s Letter, which addresses his recovery, his efforts to increase aphasia awareness, and the use of AI-assisted voice technology to bring Brokenness Becomes Beautiful to audiences.
The magazine cover celebrates Ang’s recent achievement as the 2026 NYC Big Book Award Winner in the Audiobook: Poetry/Memoir category.
From Singapore to New York City’s Times Square
Ang’s story will also reach one of the most recognizable public spaces in the world when he is highlighted on a NYC Times Square billboard honoring his 2026 NYC Big Book Award recognition.
The billboard showcases Brokenness Becomes Beautiful and Ang’s journey as a Singaporean stroke survivor living with aphasia who discovered an alternative way to share his poetry using an AI-generated version of his own voice.
For Ang, appearing in Times Square signifies something greater than an international book award.
“There was a time after my stroke when even saying a simple sentence could be difficult,” Ang said. “To now see my story and my work being shared in Times Square feels almost impossible to imagine. I hope someone living with stroke or aphasia sees it and knows that their story can continue too.”
World Stroke Day: Celebrating Life Beyond Stroke
On October 29, 2026, Ang will join stroke survivors from across the United States and Singapore for “World Stroke Day: Celebrating You Beyond Stroke,” presented through the Stroke Onward Community Center (SOCC).
Rather than a conventional expert-led program, the virtual celebration places stroke survivors themselves at the forefront of the discussion, emphasizing their skills, talents, knowledge, experiences, and expertise.
Ang will appear alongside featured presenters:
Emily Williams — Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States
Earvin M Young Jr — United States
Kristen Aguirre — Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States
Cristina Martínez — California, United States
Bob Raynor — Awendaw, South Carolina, United States
Katie “Kathryn” Breece
Mike Jankowski — Pennsylvania, United States
Terence Ang — Singapore
Together, the presenters will share experiences related to art, advocacy, rehabilitation, creativity, and discovering new purpose beyond stroke.
The virtual event will be held on October 29 from 7:00–8:30 p.m. ET / 4:00–5:30 p.m. PT, corresponding to the morning of October 30 in Singapore, through the Stroke Onward Community Center.
Ang’s presentation, “Aphasia Changed My Voice. It Did Not Silence Me,” examines how communication evolved after his stroke and how writing, visual storytelling, and technology have allowed him to keep expressing himself despite aphasia.
Art, Stroke and Healing at Gardens by the Bay
The month will conclude on October 31, 2026, when Ang’s artistic exploration of stroke and recovery will be displayed at Gardens by the Bay in partnership with the Singapore National Stroke Association (SNSA).
The installation, titled: “Five Vessels | One Journey | Still Me” employs five sculptural vessels to represent phases of the stroke journey — from sudden impact and struggle through healing, support, and hope for the future.
Presented as part of a broader survivor art initiative, the installation combines sculpture, poetry, floral elements, and personal reflections.
The accompanying exhibition panels introduce Brokenness Becomes Beautiful and delve into what Ang calls the “inner foundations” of recovery: self-acceptance, self-care, and self-growth.
At the heart of the work is a straightforward idea: a person may be altered by stroke without losing their essential self.
“Recovery is not always about returning to the person you were before,” Ang said. “Sometimes it is about learning to understand and accept the person you are becoming.”
The artwork reflects the Japanese philosophy of kintsugi, where cracks are not concealed but become part of an object’s narrative — a metaphor for Ang’s conviction that brokenness and beauty can coexist.
More Than a Month of Events
Although the four October appearances take markedly different forms — a magazine, a billboard, a virtual gathering, and a physical art installation — Ang views them as pieces of a single story.
His work increasingly focuses on the period beyond the immediate medical recovery from stroke: the quieter process of rebuilding confidence, relationships, communication, identity, and purpose.
That message is especially relevant for people living with aphasia, an acquired language disorder that can impact speaking, understanding, reading, and writing.
Because aphasia is often invisible until a person tries to communicate, Ang hopes his public efforts can also foster greater patience and understanding for individuals whose thoughts may be clearer than their spoken words suggest.
“Being heard does not always mean speaking perfectly,” Ang said. “Sometimes it means being given the time, technology, space and understanding to communicate in your own way.”
For World Stroke Day 2026, that is the message linking Ang’s journey from Singapore to New York and back again:
Stroke may change a life. It does not erase the person living it.
About Terence Ang
Terence Ang is an author, illustrator, and passionate advocate for stroke survivors. Following a life-altering stroke in 2020, Ang transformed his personal recovery into a global mission of hope. Through his vulnerable prose, expressive artwork, and pioneering adoption of assistive AI technologies, he shines a light on aphasia awareness and the profound beauty of human resilience. He resides and creates in Singapore.
About Printed Word Reviews
Printed Word Reviews, https://printedwordreviews.com/, is a trusted international print and digital publication dedicated to insightful, comprehensive, and honest literary criticism. Cultivating a community of avid readers, authors, and industry professionals, the outlet covers a diverse array of genres, ranging from contemporary fiction and memoirs to historical non-fiction and poetry. With a steadfast commitment to elevating exceptional storytelling, Printed Word Reviews highlights both best-selling masterpieces and hidden indie gems, serving as a vital bridge between brilliant authors and passionate readers. Printed Word Reviews is published monthly and registered with the U.S. ISSN Center at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. with the ISSN 3067-011X.
Gabby Olczak
Independent Press Award / NYC Big Book Award
+1 973-969-1899
email us here
Visit us on social media:
LinkedIn
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
TikTok
X
Other
PWR's exclusive NYC's Times Square Billboard
