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Hello, Elle!
15a, is first "b"ear, plus "ananas" giving "bananas"
Ananas is a pineapple.
16d, The complaint is "TB".
A miserly sort is "a near".
An "ant bear" is a threat to workers/ants.
23, the writer's twice, is "I'm" plus "I've", the papers are "press".
Of merit is "impressive".
I liked 25a, Grant is Cary!

Hi, Rusty!
Thank you for your help.
I would never have got either of those clues.....
I've never heard of "ananas"!
Nor have I heard the term "a near" as meaning "a miserly sort"?
And I'm sorry, but I still don't understand 23a....
I already had "impressive" meaning "of merit", and I can see "press" = "papers".....
But I don't get the "I'm" and "I've"?
Leastways, I can at a pinch see "I'm "as "the writer" but how come "I've"?
This is a contraction of "I have".....however does that fit into it?
My favourites from those clues I managed to do are 11a: epistle; 18a: adduced and 25a: caryatid.

Hello, Elle!
A tight-fisted person is miserly, mean, or "near".
"The writer" is the puzzle setter.
"The writer's" is "I have" and "I am".
I first came across "ananas" quite a few puzzles ago!
Yes, I like the old Cary Grant clue, too!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, I get the "I am " as being the "writer".......but why "I HAVE "?
That doesn't mean the same thing , nor does it make any sense to me?

Hello, Elle.
It is "writer's", not writer.
"Writer's" means belonging to the writer. "I have" or "I've".
Writer is "I", Writer's is "I have"

Hi, Rusty!
Hmm......
It surely cannot have it both ways?
Either the clue should say "the writer" meaning "I'm"....or "the writer's" meaning meaning "I have"?
I have checked again, and the clue stated "the writer'S " ….so how can that mean both?
But we could argue about this all night!
I am following what you are saying but personally don't find the clue acceptable.....?
I'm needing a strong coffee.....want one?!

Hello, Elle!
It is a perfectly fine clue.
I am is "I'm" meaning "the writer is"/"the writer's".
I can not explain any better.
I do not drink coffee after tea-time.

Hi, Rusty!
You have indeed been very patient....and have done your best to explain!
Probably the fault in understanding lies with me.
I shall draw a line under it...…."tomorrow is another day"!
I can drink coffee any time...it does not affect my sleeping.....
(But mostly I drink cold water)

Good morning, Elle!
Boy! Do we have weather!
Very heavy rain here.
I had my waterproof bunnet on, when I was out, and it is not often that happens.
One local festival in town has been cancelled due to the weather, and also the Perth Highland Games, due to the site being waterlogged.
I only drink coffee (decaff), and water, too.
I think I am home for the day!
Right, I shall attempt my puzzle now.

Good morning, Rusty!
We have rain here, but thankfully no sign of the threatened thunderstorm.
It has been showery......and the dog and I managed most of our walk without getting too wet.
It is a pity about your local festival, and the Perth Highland Games , needing to be cancelled because of the bad weather.
Our builder came around this morning to give us an estimate for re - plastering part of our kitchen wall, near the central heating boiler.
It is thought that the wall gets damp from condensation....
Luckily, we still have a spare roll of wallpaper, so the repair can be easily effected.
A coffee and the crossword sound like a good idea!