"To Kill a Mockingbird" author
(Other definitions for harper lee that I've seen before include "Author of Go Set a Watchman, d. 2016 -- paler here (anag)" , "American novelist" .)
'to kill a mockingbird author' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is the entire clue.
(Other definitions for lee that I've seen before include "Towards the side away from the wind (naut)" , "Bruce ___, martial arts ace" , "The sheltered side of something" , "Cork river" , "The sheltered side - of Cork's river?" .)