Clue: Pirate thriller writer discussed always (9)
Answer: BUCCANEER
Explanation: Pirate thriller writer discussed always (9)
Homophone of (John) **BUCHAN** ("thriller writer" *discussed*) + **E'ER** ("always") 
*BUCHAN and BUCCAN are not homophones, though, as Buchan was Scottish and therefore the "ch" is pronounced as in "loch".