F. Scott Deaver

Innovative Novelist and Award-Winning Author

After a stint in the Navy, I supervised Iowa’s state agency archiving criminal investigations, which immersed me in true crime as I proofed the quality of the microfiche we produced. I then left public service to become an undercover private investigator for two firms in Des Moines and Omaha. That, in turn, interested me in the role of computers in the forensic sciences.

After teaching myself computer programming, I wrote tens of millions of words to support the code I produced as a consulting software engineer, primarily around cybercrime. I also wrote "Deaver on Cybersecurity" to describe several US cybersecurity patents I hold (ten at last count). I provided my services to more than seventy clients over the course of my technical career, including NASA, many of the Fortune 50, and several innovative startups.

I kept up with advances in criminology and forensics, went on ride-alongs with law enforcement (I have family members who serve), and played with story ideas. I chose to try my hand as a ghostwriter, completing my first fictional work in 2023.  I've produced drafts for three additional books to date and outlines for a dozen more.

I'm a member of the San Diego Writers and Editors Guild, San Diego Writers, Ink, and Springfield (MO) Writers Guild. I most recently won the National Story Telling Week Writing Contest for 2024. I know, no big deal, but it was the only contest I've entered to date... novice writers live for these kinds of things!

Forgive me - I’ve never claimed to be a writer. It’s just that people who read like the stories I tell.

Scott

Writing ambitions

Caterpillars want to be butterflies someday...

I've finished three of the ten books I've agreed to ghostwrite. I'll release short stories periodically in my name, along with several flash fiction pieces (primarily contest entries).

Reviewers and alpha/beta readers have commented about the depth of the character development and descriptions of the surroundings in my work. I'll continue to focus on writing assignments where those qualities are a priority.

Awards And Nominations

Scott most recently won the National Story Telling Week Writing Contest for 2024.

 

  • 2024 - National Story Telling Week Writing Contest

Writing

Scott spends most of his time writing books, but he also writes the occasional short story. He has been known to dabble in flash fiction as the mood strkes him.

Reading

Scott's interest in writing began in his love for reading. An avid reader since kindergarten, he enjoys both fiction (especially a good murder or psychodrama) and non-fiction (techie stuff, mostly).

Computer science and forensics

A self-taught software engineer and architect (including for NASA), Scott holds ten US patents for cybersecurity. Before that, he archived criminal records for the state and worked several years as an undercover private investigator. He still goes on ride-alongs with law enforcement every chance he gets.

Cycling

Scott has enjoyed cycling from back when he was a kid - he's saving his pennies and nickels for a new e-bike.

Photography

One of Scott's favorite hobbies is as a photographer, sucked in when the first digital cameras came on the scene. He spends way too much time playing with merging real photos and AI-generated images.

Editorials

Never lacking for an opinion on almost any topic you can name, Scott enjoys writing editorials and opinion pieces on local and national subjects of interest.