Effusive kid put it down to hug author (6)
I believe the answer is:
updike
'author' is the definition.
(I have seen 'American author ' mean 'updike' so perhaps 'author' could also mean 'updike')
'effusive kid put it down to hug' is the wordplay.
'UPDIKE' is hidden backwards within the letters.
But, I'm uncertain how the hidden word is indicated.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for updike that I've seen before include "John --, US author" , "John --, US novelist" , "John ---, Rabbit novelist" , "American author, John, b.1932" .)