Author American state predator quoted (8,5)
I believe the answer is:
virginia woolf
'author' is the definition.
'american state predator quoted' is the wordplay.
'american state' becomes 'virginia' (Virginia is an example).
'predator' becomes 'wolf'.
'quoted' shows a homophone (sound like).
'wolf' is a homophone of 'woolf'.
'virginia'+'woolf'='VIRGINIA WOOLF'
(Other definitions for virginia woolf that I've seen before include "Bloomsbury author" , ""Mrs Dalloway" novelist" .)