Clue: Witty opening in springboard, you might say, for novel (3,8,5)
Answer: THE STEPFORD WIVES
Explanation: Witty opening in springboard, you might say, for novel (3,8,5)
An envelope ('in') of W ('**W**itty opening') in THE STEP FOR DIVES ('springboard, you might say'), for the novel by Ira Levin.