The term DELIVERANCE AUTHOR can be broken down into five crossword solutions: BANJO (5 letters), BEATTY (6 letters), PURIM (5 letters), RESCUE (6 letters), and RONNY (5 letters). The first solution, BANJO, is the pen name of American author James Dickey, who wrote the novel Deliverance in 1970. The second solution, BEATTY, is the surname of American actor and director Warren BEATTY, who directed the 1972 film adaptation of Deliverance. The third solution, PURIM, is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the deliverance of the Jewish people from Haman's plot to kill them as recorded in the Book of Esther. The fourth solution, RESCUE, is an action taken to save someone or something from danger or harm. The fifth solution, RONNY, is the nickname of American actor Ronny Cox, who starred in the 1972 film adaptation of Deliverance.