Computer Consulting, Freelance Writing and Self - Publishing Background

I have always loved to read and to put words on paper. While working with my Dad for many years in the private development of water and energy resources, I found writing was a passion of mine. I wrote many reports, applications for Federal, State and local permits, progress reports and articles. I completed several Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Hydroelectric Project License applications and many FERC project progress reports. The License applications, even for small scale projects were several hundred pages long. I owned and operated a small hydroelectric project in western Colorado for ten years, which required an extensive amount of annual reporting to Federal, State and Local agencies.

I started writing my first book about Water and Water Rights in Colorado in 1987. It started as a short report on water and water rights dedicated to my dad written in 1979. It finally became a self published book in 1991. It sold reasonably well over the next ten years.

In 2001, I formed BurgYoung Publishing with a friend and very polished writer Diana Burg. One of my first projects was to revise and publish my water book entitled Understanding Water Rights and Conflicts, Second Edition. At the time BurgYoung Publishing had also revised and reprinted my partner’s book entitled How to Get to Know God (currently re-titled Getting to Know God, Beginning the Journey). My newest book to be published in 2006 is entitled The Orphan Boy, A Love Affair with Mining. It is the story of my Dad after World War II in Colorado. My partner Diana has just finished a book that we have published entitled Mourning Glory, A Devotional for Grieving.

After finishing updating Understanding Water Rights and Conflicts, Second Edition, I started on my second book. This book stemmed from on of the chapters in Understanding Water Rights and Conflicts. Just after the infamous terrorist attack on September 11, 2001, I became interested in the vulnerability of our water supply systems to terrorism. My chapter entitled Water Conflicts, Wars and Terrorism was expanded into a book entitled Understanding Water and Terrorism. This book explores our water supply infrastructure and the potential for terrorism. It also discusses the potential vulnerability of out inter-coastal waterways, and our ports. This book was published in 2003.

As a member of my local water board, watching over a water district that serves 600 taps and about 1,200 customers, I saw firsthand a vulnerability not being addressed. Very small water systems were not getting any federal, state or local help with security or terrorism resources. I published a book entitled Practical Guide to Water Supply and Terrorism, A Resource for Water Systems. This book is designed as a resource to help small public water system owners and administrators.

My newest book entitled Orphan Boy, A Love Affair with Mining tells the story of my Dad reopening a small lead silver mine in the spectacular Colorado Rocky Mountains. This mine, the Orphan Boy, was originally discovered during the Glory Days of Colorado in the 1880s.  The Orphan Boy is located in one of the richest mining districts in Colorado, the Montezuma Mining District, and at 12,000 feet is literally "at the top of the Rocky Mountains." This book includes a CD with historical documents, maps, mining records and mining plats from this historic area.

I have also written, compiled and published a variety of eBooks and CD-ROMs on various subjects. Two of my favorite eBooks published on CD-ROM involve meteors and asteroids and my father’s Army Air Corps unit in the South Pacific in World War II.

Falling from the Sky, A Meteorite Resource CD-ROM is an extensive resource about meteorites, asteroids, meteorite falls, impact craters and strewn fields. As a geologist, I find meteorites to be very special rocks from “out of this world.”

My father left a lot of information about his World War II days as a B-25 pilot. I took this information and made it a tribute to his unit, entitled Strike, The Fighting 17^th. This CD includes many combat photos, information about the Fighting 17^th, and background on this little known theater of World War II.

One excellent way to sell informational products such as CDs and eBooks on the internet is to use EBay, as well as your own web site. I found two different courses about selling on EBay that are very informative. One is by Dave Espino and the other is by Corey Rudl. These two internet marketers both promote selling informational products on the web and on EBay. I urge you to take a look at the EBay course, entitled The Insider Secrets of a ‘Regular Guy’ Who Made a $8 Million on eBay Last Year, produced by Internet Marketing Center.

The internet has the potential to reach 6 billion people around the world. I have put together several web sites that provide information on how big this market is, how to come up with ideas about what to sell and what to do once you have a product or service to sell (Marketing in a Flat World). I also offer information and ideas on how to create products of services, how to research ideas, how to generate informational products, where to get the best content for your web site and how to publish your informational product.

Another passion of mine is computers and new technology. As a geologist and computer consultant, I became interested in the internet as it grew into a global phenomenon. My first computer was a Radio Shack TRS-80, and I was hooked. Over the next thirty years, I learned to repair, troubleshoot and program computers. Because I am fascinated with Laptop computers, and use my two laptops extensively, I put together a website entitled WritersLaptop.com to help people select the right laptop, software and peripherals for their needs.

Writing, information and communication skills are going to become more and more important as the internet brings the world closer and closer together. Technology will continue to advance at an ever faster pace. More and more people will come into the world marketplace. Having the skills to write and communicate with people, as well as new and creative ideas, will determine whether you and your business are successful in this new flat world, as defined by Thomas Friedman in his best selling book The World is Flat. Being left behind is neither a very good nor a very exciting option.

To Your Success

 

H. Court Young

Writer, Author and Publisher

PS: I can be contacted: 

Email: info@tmcco.com