Crossword Genius

Spice up writer (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

sumac

'spice' is the definition.
(sumac is a spice)

'up writer' is the wordplay.
'up' is a reversal indicator (in down clue: letters go upwards).
'writer' becomes 'Camus' (author Albert Camus).
'camus' backwards is 'SUMAC'.

(Other definitions for sumac that I've seen before include "Smoke-bush" , "Small tree bright in autumn" , "Shrub or small tree - Camus (anag)" , "Rudely brief" , "Spice" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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