American author's heard model (4)
I believe the answer is:
pose
'model' is the definition.
(model can mean to pose)
I don't understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pose that I've seen before include "Models do it for photographic or artistic purposes" , "Sit for picture" , "Present (a question); sit" , "Pretence" , "Present (problem), sit" .)