| 100% | SARA | 4 | Author Paretsky who wrote the V.I. Warshawski novels |
| 73% | SARA | 4 | Novelist Paretsky who writes the V.I. Warshawski mystery series |
| 68% | SARA | 4 | Author Paretsky who created the detective V.I. Warshawski |
| 59% | SARA | 4 | Author Paretsky who created V.I. Warshawski |
| 55% | SARA | 4 | Paretsky who wrote the 2018 detective novel "Shell Game" |
| 53% | NORA | 4 | Author Roberts who wrote the new novel "Under Currents" |
| 53% | CARLHIAASEN | 11 | "Squeeze Me" author who wrote the novel that 49-Across is based on (2 wds.) |
| 51% | MARIOPUZO | 9 | Author who wrote the novel The Godfather |
| 49% | MARIOPUZO | 9 | Author who wrote the novel 15-Across was based on: 2 wds. |
| 49% | ELENA | 5 | Italian author Ferrante, who wrote the "Neapolitan Novels" |
| 47% | PIKE | 4 | American author Christopher ___ who wrote the "Remember Me" book series |
| 47% | SARA | 4 | Writer Paretsky who created female private investigator V.I. Warshawski, protagonist in at least 20 novels |
| 46% | BALDACCI | 8 | Best-selling author David who writes the “King and Maxwell” novels |
| 46% | TED | 3 | American author ___ Bell who wrote the Alexander Hawke novel series |
| 46% | GILLIANFLYNN | 12 | Author who wrote the novels from which 17-Across and 29-/31-Across were adapted: 2 wds. |
| 46% | DAN | 3 | American author ___ Brown who wrote the Robert Langdon series of novels |
| 45% | SUEGRAFTON | 10 | Mystery author who wrote the 2015 novel “X” (the twenty-fourth in a series) |
| 45% | THOMASPYNCHON | 13 | National Book Award winner who wrote the 1963 novel "V.": 2 wds. |
| 45% | 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% | GALLICO | 7 | Author Paul who wrote The Poseidon Adventure |
| 44% | ROTH | 4 | Author Veronica who wrote the "Divergent" books |
| 44% | LEE | 3 | Author Child who wrote the Jack Reacher series |
| 44% | RODERICKTHORP | 13 | Author who wrote "Nothing Lasts Forever," the novel on which movie in 17a was based: 2 wds. |
| 43% | MEYER | 5 | Stephenie who wrote the "Twilight" novels |
| 43% | DONOGHUE | 8 | Emma who wrote the novel Room |
| 43% | ELLISON | 7 | Ralph who wrote the novel "Juneteenth" |
| 43% | JOHNUPDIKE | 10 | Author of the Rabbit series who wrote the 1988 novel "S.": 2 wds. |
| 43% | NORA | 4 | Author Roberts who wrote the 2016 bestseller "The Obsession" |
| 43% | JOANNEROWLING | 13 | Author of the "Harry Potter" series who has written novels under the pen name Robert Galbraith: 2 wds. |