| 100% | WILLACATHER | 11 | American novelist who wrote the Great Plains trilogy of 15-Across, "The Song of the Lark," and 45-Across (2 wds.) |
| 49% | LEIGHBARDUGO | 12 | American novelist who wrote 17-Across, 40-Across, and the "Shadow and Bone" trilogy (2 wds.) |
| 47% | LOUISEERDRICH | 13 | Native American novelist who wrote 15-Across, 29-Across, and the Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Night Watchman" (2 wds.) |
| 44% | WALTWHITMAN | 11 | American poet and essayist often called the father of free verse and who wrote the poem "Song of Myself": 2 wds. |
| 44% | MICHAELCHABON | 13 | Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist who wrote "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay," 15-Across, and 47-Across (2 wds.) |
| 42% | RUTHWARE | 8 | British novelist who wrote the bestsellers "The Woman in Cabin 10," 15-Across, and 29-Across (2 wds.) |
| 41% | BRIANJACQUES | 12 | British novelist who wrote the "Redwall" and "Castaways of the Flying Dutchman" series (2 wds.) |
| 41% | SHERMANALEXIE | 13 | Native American novelist who wrote 2007's "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian": 2 wds. |
| 40% | LOUISEERDRICH | 13 | Native American novelist who wrote 18-Across, 44-Across, and 2020's "The Night Watchman" (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% | DAVIDGRANN | 10 | American journalist who wrote "Killers of the Flower Moon," "The Wager," and the works that inspired 16-Across and 32-Across (2 wds.) |
| 40% | 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. |
| 39% | ALICEHOFFMAN | 12 | American novelist who has written 29 novels, including "The Dovekeepers," 14-Across, and 31-Across (2 wds.) |
| 39% | JESSEOWENS | 10 | American track and field athlete who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games and is considered one of the greatest athletes ever: 2 wds. |
| 39% | ANGIETHOMAS | 11 | Novelist who wrote the Y.A. bestsellers 17-Across and 29-Across (2 wds.) |
| 39% | HEATHERMORRIS | 13 | New Zealand novelist who wrote "The Tattooist of Auschwitz" and its sequels, 32-Across and 52-Across (2 wds.) |
| 38% | DONDELILLO | 10 | American novelist who wrote "Mao II," 18-Across, 25-Across, and 34-Across (2 wds.) |
| 38% | HARLANHOWARD | 12 | Songwriter in the Nashville Songwriters, Country Music, and Songwriters Halls of Fame who wrote the songs on 40-Across's 2023 album (2 wds.) |
| 38% | KELLYCLARKSON | 13 | 16-Across and 45-Across singer who won the first season of "American Idol" (2 wds.) |
| 38% | MICHAELPHELPS | 13 | American swimmer who holds the most world records (7) and is one of the fastest in men's swimming: 2 wds. |
| 38% | EDNAOBRIEN | 10 | Irish novelist who wrote "The Country Girls," "House of Splendid Isolation," and "Girls" (2 wds.) |
| 38% | FRANKROBINSON | 13 | Baseball great who was the only player named MVP of both the National League and the American League (2 wds.) |
| 38% | KURTVONNEGUT | 12 | American novelist in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame who was born in 1922 (2 wds.) |
| 37% | DANIELLESTEEL | 13 | American author who wrote "A Perfect Life" and is currently the bestselling author alive: 2 wds. |
| 37% | ZACEFRON | 8 | Actor who plays a protégé of 15-Across in "The Greatest Showman": 2 wds. |
| 37% | ANNNAPOLITANO | 13 | "Dear Edward" novelist who wrote 15-Across and 33-Across (2 wds.) |
| 37% | NEILGAIMAN | 10 | Fantasy novelist who wrote "American Gods" and "The Graveyard Book": 2 wds. |
| 37% | CORNELIAFUNKE | 13 | Novelist of 18-Across and the "Inkheart" trilogy (2 wds.) |
| 37% | FAYEKELLERMAN | 13 | "The Quality of Mercy" novelist who has written 27 mysteries featuring 18-Across and 40-Across (2 wds.) |
| 37% | ANITASHREVE | 11 | Novelist of "The Weight of Water," 15-Across, and 46-Across who died March 29 (2 wds.) |