Crossword Genius

Author lifting a piece of Spenser (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

pen

'author' is the definition.
(to pen something is to author it)

'lifting a piece of spenser' is the wordplay.
'lifting a piece of' indicates a hidden word.
'PEN' is hidden in the letters of 'spenser'.

(Other definitions for pen that I've seen before include "American jug?" , "Animal enclosure" , "Cage - bird" , "Prison" , "record" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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