The others are in the foreground with the author (8)
I believe the answer is:
forester
'author' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I don't see?
I can't explain the remainder of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for forester that I've seen before include "Hornblower novelist" , "One caring for trees" , "Woodman" , "Tree expert" , "One in charge of woodlands" .)