| 100% | SHEL | 4 | Author and cartoonist Silverstein who wrote "The Giving Tree" |
| 67% | SHEL | 4 | Silverstein who wrote and illustrated "The Giving Tree" |
| 64% | SHEL | 4 | Silverstein who wrote "The Giving Tree" |
| 62% | SHEL | 4 | ___ Silverstein, the famed children's author who wrote "The Giving Tree" |
| 51% | SHEL | 4 | Silverstein who wrote the words and music for Johnny Cash's "A Boy Named Sue" |
| 50% | SYD | 3 | Cartoonist Hoff who wrote "Danny and the Dinosaur" |
| 48% | SHEL | 4 | "The Giving Tree" author Silverstein |
| 48% | SHEL | 4 | “The Giving Tree” author Silverstein |
| 46% | ROALD | 5 | Author Dahl who wrote "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" |
| 45% | GILLIANFLYNN | 12 | Author who wrote the novels from which 17-Across and 29-/31-Across were adapted: 2 wds. |
| 45% | GRACEPALEY | 10 | Author and activist who wrote, “It is the poet’s responsibility to learn the truth from the powerless” |
| 45% | ALISONBECHDEL | 13 | Cartoonist who wrote and illustrated the graphic memoir "Are You My Mother?" (2 wds.) |
| 44% | RUDYARDKIPLING | 14 | English author who wrote the children's literature at 18- and 41-Across: 2 wds. |
| 44% | BEVERLYCLEARY | 13 | Children's author who wrote the novel "Ramona and Her Mother" (2 wds.) |
| 44% | NICCIFRENCH | 11 | Pseudonymous writing team who authored thrillers Beneath the Skin and Killing Me Softly |
| 44% | MIRANDAJULY | 11 | Author and filmmaker who wrote “The First Bad Man” |
| 44% | SHEL | 4 | Silverstein who wrote "Where the Sidewalk Ends" |
| 43% | MARGARETATWOOD | 14 | "Alias Grace" author who also wrote children's books, including "Up in the Tree" |
| 43% | SHEL | 4 | Poet Silverstein who wrote the song "A Boy Named Sue" |
| 43% | TANEHISICOATES | 14 | Author and journalist who wrote “The Case for Reparations” (2014) |
| 43% | TESS | 4 | Author Gerritsen who writes about the crime-solving duo of Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles |
| 43% | BALDACCI | 8 | Best-selling author David who writes the “King and Maxwell” novels |
| 43% | KAFKA | 5 | Author Franz who wrote "The Metamorphosis" and "The Trial" |
| 42% | JASONREYNOLDS | 13 | Author who has written "Ghost," "Patina," and other novels for kids in the middle school years: 2 wds. |
| 42% | MITSKI | 6 | Singer who wrote the lyric "Give me one good movie kiss and I'll be alright" |
| 42% | ZOLA | 4 | French author who wrote, “Truth is on the march, and nothing will stop it” |
| 42% | SHEL | 4 | Poet Silverstein who wrote "Where the Sidewalk Ends" |
| 42% | MAILER | 6 | Norman who wrote The Naked and the Dead |
| 42% | VIRGINIAWOOLF | 13 | "Mrs. Dalloway" author who also wrote children's stories, including "The Widow and the Parrot" (2 wds.) |
| 42% | ANGER | 5 | Ed ___ who wrote "Let's Pave the Stupid Rainforests & Give School Teachers Stun Guns: And Other Ways to Save America" in 1996 |