This Thursday she will be heading north to be apart of the 555 Roadshow before being a panel guest at the Byron Bay Writers Festival. 

As a type of warm up to the writers festival, the 555 Roadshow involves five writers, visiting five towns over five days. Ms Stroud will be joining well-known writers Kate Forsyth, Jesse Blackadder, Miles Merrill and Luke Carman to travel around Coffs, Mullumbimby, Ballina, Brunswick Heads and Lennox Heads visiting libraries, writers groups and schools.

She will then be joining the likes of actress Magda Szubanski, journalists Annabel Crabb and Stan Grant at the festival where she will be on a panel with Tomorrow When the War Began author John Marsdon to debate the pressing issues in education and literacy.

This all came about as a result of Ms Stroud’s Teaching Australia essay about her decision to leave mainstream education which was published in the Griffith Review and of which an excerpt on Facebook went viral. 

“This is so exciting, I have been counting down the days and I still can’t believe I’m a guest with these fantastic writers, even to soak up their knowledge will be an incredible opportunity,” Ms Stroud said. 

On top of her upcoming literacy adventure on the north coast of NSW, Ms Stroud has also been nominated for a Walkley for her essay and she has signed a book contract. 

But for now Ms Stroud is keeping a level head as she starts back teaching at Bega’s Montessori School and continues to promote literacy in young children as part of her Bookworms venture.