Sydney beach novelist (6)
I believe the answer is:
bronte
'novelist' is the definition.
(Charlotte, Anne or Emily Bront)
I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for bronte that I've seen before include "Charlotte, Branwell, Emily and Anne" , "Charlotte ...... wrote ` `Jane Eyre' '" , "See 19" , "English writing family" , "Bell" .)