For the last couple of months, Kansas has been hot. Unbearably hot. But some rain late last week brought with it cooler temperatures, and with it a sense that summer might be close to finished for now.

To this change in weather add in the ubiquitous students returning to classrooms as school starts up again. It’s a magical time. A time of new beginnings and new adventures.

This weekend, my wife and I broke our lazy Saturday morning routine to attend the third annual Local Writers Workshop hosted by the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library. This educational event was just what I needed to inspire my writing and give me some new tools for my professional toolbox.

Growing up, I would get excited at the end of summer because school allowed me a chance to learn new things and meet new people. Buying school supplies gave me a weird tingle that still strikes me to this day. Take me to an office supply store or even the school supplies aisle at the local department store and I get a rush. Even now, I want new pens, new notebooks, and a Trapper Keeper® to store all my stuff in.

That’s why this weekend’s event was so special. Going to the Local Writers Workshop was a bit like that first day of classes. There were old friends to see and new friends to meet. I learned a lot, talked a lot, and I even had a new headshot taken (just like picture day at school!).

The lectures were a mix of professional training (book pitches, intellectual property rights) and an exploration of poetry. We also had some wonderful speakers who shared their inspiring stories.

I’ll be back to the T&SCPL in December when it hosts its annual Great Writers, Right Here author fair. I’ll be there with the first two books in The Village Alchemist series, sharing a table with Rachel (R.L. Naquin). It should be a great time! More to come as the event gets closer.

Although autumn won’t arrive for a few more weeks, a new season has already begun. It is a season filled with stories to write, books to read, and wisdom to share. This is the season of new beginnings and new friendships. It’s the start of something big.