Author Joyce Carol (5)
I believe the answer is:
oates
'author joyce carol' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for oates that I've seen before include "Polar explorer - Stuart conspirator" , "Captain on Scott expedition who died in blizzard" , "Explorer of history" , "His last words were I'm just going outside, and may be some time" , "Doomed explorer" .)