| 100% | ASHLEYELSTON | 12 | "10 Blind Dates" author who wrote 18-Across and 32-Across (2 wds.) |
| 68% | DONDELILLO | 10 | Author of "Libra" and "Mao II" who wrote 18-, 26-, and 35-Across: 2 wds. |
| 62% | RUDYARDKIPLING | 14 | English author who wrote the children's literature at 18- and 41-Across: 2 wds. |
| 56% | SHOELESSJOE | 11 | Nickname of "Black Sox" outfielder Jackson who's a character in 18-Across and 32-Across: 2 wds. |
| 55% | MARYSHELLEY | 11 | Author who began writing 28-Across at the age of 18: 2 wds. |
| 55% | JASONREYNOLDS | 13 | National Ambassador for Young People's Literature who wrote 18-Across and 39-Across (2 wds.) |
| 54% | GILLIANFLYNN | 12 | Author who wrote the novels from which 17-Across and 29-/31-Across were adapted: 2 wds. |
| 54% | JOHNSTEINBECK | 13 | Nobel Prize-winning writer born February 27, 1902, who wrote 18-Across and 44-Across (2 wds.) |
| 53% | SHONDARHIMES | 12 | 18-Across creator who wrote the episode in which 32-Across died: 2 wds |
| 52% | THEMISFITS | 10 | 1961 John Huston film written by Arthur Miller starring 18-Across and 32-Across (2 wds.) |
| 52% | KARENBLIXEN | 11 | Danish author who wrote 17-Across and 30-Across under the pen name Isak Dinesen (2 wds.) |
| 51% | TONIMORRISON | 12 | 18-Across and 32-Across novelist who won the 1993 Nobel Prize for Literature (2 wds.) |
| 51% | NICKHORNBY | 10 | British author who wrote "About a Boy," 16-Across, and 31-Across (2 wds.) |
| 51% | COTTONMALONE | 12 | Fictional bookseller and former spy who appears in 20 Steve Berry novels, including 18-Across and 32-Across (2 wds.) |
| 50% | GRACIEABRAMS | 12 | 18-Across and 32-Across singer-songwriter who often opens for Taylor Swift on her Eras Tour (2 wds.) |
| 50% | JAMESDASHNER | 12 | Author of 32- and 46-Across: 2 wds. |
| 50% | JUSTINBIEBER | 12 | Singer of 18-Across and 32-Across who turns 25 years old on March 1 (2 wds.) |
| 50% | DENNISLEHANE | 12 | Writer of "Mystic River," 18-Across, and 32-Across who was born August 4, 1965 (2 wds.) |
| 50% | LOUISEERDRICH | 13 | Native American novelist who wrote 18-Across, 44-Across, and 2020's "The Night Watchman" (2 wds.) |
| 49% | FAYEKELLERMAN | 13 | "The Quality of Mercy" novelist who has written 27 mysteries featuring 18-Across and 40-Across (2 wds.) |
| 49% | DANIELLESTEEL | 13 | Bestselling romance novelist who has written more than 200 books, including 18-Across and 43-Across (2 wds.) |
| 49% | DANIELLESTEEL | 13 | American author who wrote "A Perfect Life" and is currently the bestselling author alive: 2 wds. |
| 49% | MARGARETATWOOD | 14 | Author who won the Booker Prize for "The Blind Assassin" and "The Testaments": 2 wds. |
| 48% | LOUISBRAILLE | 12 | Blind educator who invented the touch system of reading and writing named after him: 2 wds. |
| 48% | DAVIDMITCHELL | 13 | English novelist who wrote "Cloud Atlas," "The Bone Clocks," and 18-Across (2 wds.) |
| 48% | KENNETH | 7 | With 37-Across, Scottish author who wrote "The Wind in the Willows": 2 wds. |
| 48% | MARIOPUZO | 9 | Author who wrote the novel 15-Across was based on: 2 wds. |
| 48% | AMYSCHUMER | 10 | Sketch comedy performer who wrote and stars in 41-Across: 2 wds. |
| 48% | BEVERLYCLEARY | 13 | Children's author of 18-Across and 30-Across who turned 102 on April 12 (2 wds.) |
| 48% | DONDELILLO | 10 | American novelist who wrote "Mao II," 18-Across, 25-Across, and 34-Across (2 wds.) |