Supplier protecting this writer, following book launch, primarily (9)
I believe the answer is:
publisher
'supplier protecting this writer following book launch primarily' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'supplier protecting this writer following book launch primarily' is the wordplay.
'supplier' becomes 'pusher' (push can mean to sell or supply).
'protecting' is an insertion indicator.
'this writer' becomes 'i' (the person who is writing these clues).
'following' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'primarily' suggests taking the first letters.
The first letters of 'book launch' is 'bl'.
'i' put after 'bl' is 'bli'.
'pusher' enclosing 'bli' is 'PUBLISHER'.
(Other definitions for publisher that I've seen before include "House of books" , "Eg Jonathan Cape or Hamish Hamilton" , "Book or journal issuer" , "Man with many titles" , "bookmaker!" .)