Crossword Genius

Author in love with son begins show (5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

opens

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'begins show' is the definition.
'opens' can be an answer for 'begins' (opening is a kind of begining). I'm not sure about the 'show' bit.

'author in love with son' is the wordplay.
'author' becomes 'pen'.
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'love' becomes 'o' (In tennis, 'love' means 'zero').
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'son' becomes 's'.
'o'+'s'='os'
'pen' put into 'os' is 'OPENS'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for opens that I've seen before include "expands" , "Takes the cover off" , "Unseals" , "Launches" , "Unlocks" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
Want a hint initially instead of a full solution? Install my app