Maureen Quinlan Eileen McGowan Joan Lowery Nixon (February 3, 1927 – June 28, 2003) was an American journalist and author, specializing in historical fiction and mysteries for children and young adults.
Joan Lowery was born on February 3, 1927, in Los Angeles, California.
At USC, she met her husband, Hershell, a United States Navy officer and a geologist.
Nixon was the only author to win four Edgar Allan Poe Awards from the Mystery Writers of America, and had five additional nominations.
Her novel The Other Side of Dark was made into the 1995 TV movie Awake To Danger, starring Tori Spelling and Michael Gross.