Who was John Ball?

Exploring the pseudonymity of a prolific author and discreet nudist leader

We know plenty about John Ball, though his Wikipedia page is a little slim. The entry mentions that he was born in New York, grew up in Wisconsin, died in California. He was an aviation buff. He had a brief career as a magician. Wikipedia focuses primarily on the obvious, his work as a novelist, best known for his mystery and crime novels. He was the author of the popular In the Heat of the Night series, which was later adapted into a film and television show. The series follows the investigations of Virgil Tibbs, a black police detective in the fictional Deep South town of Sparta, Mississippi.

Ball's novels are notable for their exploration of racial tension and social issues in the South during the Civil Rights era, and the Virgil Tibbs character is remarkable largely for its portrayal by actor Sidney Poitier in the film adaptation of In the Heat of the Night, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1967. Poitier's performance as Tibbs helped to break down barriers for black…