| 100% | JOHNSTEINBECK | 13 | American author of "The Grapes of Wrath" who also wrote the screenplay for "Viva Zapata!": 2 wds. |
| 66% | MARIOPUZO | 9 | American author of "The Godfather" who also wrote the screenplay for 1978 film "Superman": 2 wds. |
| 51% | SOPHIEKINSELLA | 14 | Author of the "Shopaholic" novels who also wrote stand-alone novels as Madeleine Wickham: 2 wds. |
| 49% | JKROWLING | 9 | British novelist and creator of characters in 8a who also wrote the screenplay for "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them": 3 wds. |
| 45% | SUEGRAFTON | 10 | Author of the Kinsey Millhone mysteries who wrote the 2015 novel "X": 2 wds. |
| 45% | SIDNEYSHELDON | 13 | American author who wrote "If Tomorrow Comes", and won an Academy Award for "The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer": 2 wds. |
| 44% | JOHNUPDIKE | 10 | Author of the Rabbit series who wrote the 1988 novel "S.": 2 wds. |
| 43% | GERTRUDESTEIN | 13 | "The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas" author who also wrote the children's book "The World Is Round" (2 wds.) |
| 43% | JOANNEROWLING | 13 | Author of the "Harry Potter" series who has written novels under the pen name Robert Galbraith: 2 wds. |
| 42% | ROBREINER | 9 | Director of 33-Across who will write a foreword for the book by 15-Across: 2 wds. |
| 42% | DANBROWN | 8 | American author who wrote the bestselling thriller series including "The Da Vinci Code": 2 wds. |
| 42% | DORISLESSING | 12 | British author of "The Golden Notebook" who won the 2007 Nobel Prize for Literature: 2 wds. |
| 42% | HENRYFONDA | 10 | Actor who had a 41-year gap between Oscar nominations for 1940's "The Grapes of Wrath" and 1981's "On Golden Pond": 2 wds. |
| 41% | SPIKEJONZE | 10 | "Her" director who also directed the music video for Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice": 2 wds. |
| 41% | CLINTEASTWOOD | 13 | American actor who has also served as the Mayor of Carmel: 2 wds. |
| 41% | GILLIANFLYNN | 12 | Author who wrote the film adaptation of her own "Gone Girl": 2 wds. |
| 41% | MARYSHELLEY | 11 | Author who began writing 28-Across at the age of 18: 2 wds. |
| 41% | DANIELLESTEEL | 13 | American author who wrote "A Perfect Life" and is currently the bestselling author alive: 2 wds. |
| 41% | KAZUOISHIGURO | 13 | Author who won the Booker Prize for "The Remains of the Day": 2 wds. |
| 41% | CHUCKBERRY | 10 | American songwriter who was one of the pioneers of Rock and Roll and was known for his song "Johnny B. Goode": 2 wds. |
| 41% | STEPHENCHBOSKY | 14 | Author who wrote the film adaptation of his own "The Perks of Being a Wallflower": 2 wds. |
| 41% | CARRIEFISHER | 12 | Author who wrote the film adaptation of her own "Postcards From the Edge": 2 wds. |
| 40% | STEVEMARTIN | 11 | "Father of the Bride" actor who won the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2005: 2 wds. |
| 40% | DAVEGROHL | 9 | American musician who was the drummer for Nirvana and lead vocalist of Foo Fighters: 2 wds. |
| 40% | ARTHURASHKIN | 12 | American scientist who won one half of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics for his work on optical tweezers: 2 wds. |
| 40% | TONIMORRISON | 12 | "Beloved" author who received the American Academy of Arts and Letters Gold Medal in 2019: 2 wds. |
| 40% | JASONMOTT | 9 | Author who won the 2021 National Book Award for Fiction for "Hell of a Book": 2 wds. |
| 40% | DIANAROSS | 9 | American singer who was the lead singer of "The Supremes" and is known for her solo songs like "Upside Down": 2 wds. |
| 40% | JUSTINROILAND | 13 | American actor, who is the co-creator of "Rick and Morty", and also voices its two main characters : 2 wds. |
| 40% | JASONREYNOLDS | 13 | Author who has written "Ghost," "Patina," and other novels for kids in the middle school years: 2 wds. |