BEST VIEWED ON LAPTOP OR DESKTOP

Finn and Fungie's Book Club!

About The Author

No, that's not me! That's my sheep friend in the Cooley Mountains, above Omeath. Hello!

That's me on the left.... I'm Lori Henninger Smith. It's nice to meet you!

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all. - Helen Keller

Let me tell you my story...

( hint... I did something kinda crazy with my life! )

Something Crazy - Wonderful!

In 2017, after an event changed my life as I knew it, dramatically, I visited Ireland to start the healing process. I joined a group of hillwalkers known as the Wee Binnians and went to their hillwalking festival. ( In the states we call it hiking. ) This festival even ended with dinner, a band and a dance! When I found out I could hike and DANCE in Ireland, I was all in!

My best friend, JoAnn, came with me and here we are pictured after a hike on Slieve Martin, with the Wee Binnians' fearless founder Veronica! I also took a picture of the famous rock a giant threw over.....

I love the Irish giant folklore....

I loved the festival so much, I came back each year for the next three years.

Then I got this crazy idea.

I had always wanted to go back to college and...... I always wished I could stay in Ireland

longer each time I visited, soo....

What did I Do?

I moved to Ireland to go back to college at 57 years old

AND during a pandemic!

That was crazy for sure, but I believe things happen for a reason. I'm going to tell you a little about myself and how these books came about and show you some images of my life and times in Ireland as I go.

This is me at my house on the water of Carlingford Lough

at Omeath. I was planting flowers and enjoying the view! I never

saw Finn from this view but heard about him from my neighbors.

My favorite thing was being back in college. Unfortunately with the pandemic, I never got to place one foot inside a classroom. All my

dreams of being in actual classes with students from all over

and of all ages, faded away fast.

At first, we thought we were going to be able to go at least part time,

but that quickly changed to a hard no. All classes were to remain

online for the foreseeable future, which meant at least the entire first year.

It was still fun! I loved my classmates, teachers and the classes themselves....

well, all but maybe Accounting... sorry Pat! Don't get me wrong! I loved Pat

the lecturer! I'm just more of a right brained person... hence the creativity...

I can draw numbers better than I can accrue them!

But...

If I had not made such a radical

change in my life, I would never have

had the chance to live in such a

beautiful place as Ireland

AND

learn about the cute, little dolphin that

had taken up residence in Carlingford,

AND

be in a class with the lovely lecturer,

Ciara, that inspired me to

explore creative writing...

AND

the books about Finn and Fungie would

have never come to be!

Sometimes you have to take a chance!

Oh, I also like to take pictures........

Ireland is just beautiful! Perfect for that!

If you want to know what it's like living

in Ireland, just check out some

of the fun I had!

(These were, of course, taken either before or after lockdown.)

So, even if it was crazy, it was an amazing experience and was so worth it to have

found my passion that allows me to create, inspire and educate with fun,

little children's books!

Thanks for checking them out!

Hiking Carrantouhill

King John's Castle in Carlingford, Ireland

King John's Castle, Carlingford

View of Warrenpoint from Omeath, Ireland

View of Warrenpoint from my

front porch in Omeath

Beautiful walk in

Tollymore

Forrest Park

Sea swimming

at Templetown Beach

Orla swimming with me

Sunrise at Omeath

View of our neighborhood in Dundalk

My roommates made me

a birthday cake!

Castle-galivanting! I met the Lord and Lady Bellew!

My irish buddies Miss them!

Best Friend Stephen - introduced me to Ireland in 2017

Coffee on my front

porch at Omeath

DkIT Classmate

/friend Charlotte

Charlotte and I participated in a run for DkIT

Roommate/

awesome friend Nikita and I "Finn watching" in Greenore

Beautiful friend Orla with a sun halo at Donegal

Guy who tried to help us open a wine bottle on

the beach!

Orla and I went beach/car camping! There's a story there!

I'm an artist at heart and have tried every medium known to man,

but had never thought to use the written word as a way to express my creativity.

I am so glad I had the opportunity to learn more about creative writing

and that taking that risk would change my life in such a profound way.

I found my passion. I found my purpose. And I had a great time.

More fun in Ireland....

Beautiful walk around Warrenpoint

My roommate /friend Dwayne in a sea of rapeseed!

Castle La Roche near our house in Dundalk

Cutest little chapel

I found outside Dundalk

Beautiful building

in Newry at sunset

Lighthouse in

???

Beautiful Cliffs

of Mohor

Also at the

Cliffs of Mohor

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I hope it

inspires you to go after your dreams!

Oh, and I hope you like the books! Lori

Be sure to check out the book page for a special offer !

Silver Girl Sails Publishing, Ltd

The future belongs to those who believe in the

beauty of their dreams.

Eleanor Roosevelt