Author Quindlen (4)
I believe the answer is:
anna
'author quindlen' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for anna that I've seen before include "Former Indian coin; girl's name" , "Old Indian coin - girl's name" , "Dame -- Neagle" , "She's a woman, whichever way you look at it" , "worth very little in India" .)