Crossword Genius

Festive entertainer, children's author, runs off with hesitant expression (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

caroller

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'festive entertainer' is the definition.
'caroller' can be an answer for 'entertainer' (caroller is a kind of entertainer). I am not certain of the 'festive' bit.

'children's author runs off with hesitant expression' is the wordplay.
'children's author' becomes 'Carroll' (Lewis Carroll).
'runs' becomes 'r' (cricket abbreviation).
'off' suggests deleting specific letters (some letters taken off).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'hesitant expression' becomes 'er'.
'carroll' with 'r' taken out is 'caroll'.
'caroll'+'er'='CAROLLER'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for caroller that I've seen before include "Singer" , "that makes Christmas music" .)

I've seen this clue in The Everyman puzzle in The Observer.
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