Hi Lance!
Welcome from Northern Virginia/Sterling.
There is plenty of help here for your questions and also loads of info in our library on all different aspects of pen turning.
Since you are in the area, check out Capital Area Woodturners (Alexandria) and Catoctin Area Turners ( Leesburg/ Loudoun County). We all still meet virtually but right now, that means no traffic to contend with. We have several members in the Fredricksburg/Lake Ridge area.