| 100% | DEARY | 5 | Author Terry ___, who in 1993 published the first titles ("The Terrible Tudors" and "The Awesome Egyptians") in the "Horrible Histories" books |
| 32% | ROBINWILLIAMS | 13 | Actor who played Daniel Hillard, and the title character, in the 1993 film "Mrs. Doubtfire": 2 wds. |
| 31% | BRYSON | 6 | Bill —, author of books A Short History of Nearly Everything and A Walk in the Woods |
| 30% | MURRAY | 6 | Bill ___, "Kingpin" actor and comedian who was the first guest on the "Late Show with David Letterman" in 1993 |
| 30% | FLAVIA | 6 | ___ Bujor, "The Prophecy of the Stones" author who published her first book when she was a teen |
| 30% | ALEC | 4 | ___ Greven, "How To Talk to Girls" author who published his first book at the age of 9 |
| 30% | RLSTINE | 7 | Author referred to as "Stephen King of children's literature" who wrote the first book of the Goosebumps series in 1992 |
| 29% | OLE | 3 | Evinrude, who in 1907 invented the first practical and commercial outboard motor |
| 29% | DEARY | 5 | Terry —, children's author whose works include the Horrible Histories series |
| 28% | CARTLAND | 8 | English author Barbara, who wrote "The Wicked Marquis", and is referenced in the Guinness World Records for most novels published in a year |
| 28% | HINTON | 6 | Susan Eloise ___, "The Outsiders" author who published her first book when she was a teen |
| 28% | RAE | 3 | John —, 19th-century Scottish explorer who authored the book Narrative of an Expedition to the Shores of the Arctic Sea, in 1846 and 1847 |
| 28% | BRETON | 6 | Andre —, French poet who published the first Surrealist manifesto in 1924 |
| 28% | JOSECANSECO | 11 | Retired ballplayer who was the first to hit 40 homers and steal 40 bases in the same season: 2 wds. |
| 28% | HERODOTUS | 9 | Greek who wrote the first history book |
| 28% | SHOHEIOHTANI | 12 | Japanese MLB player who was the first player in history to be a pitcher and hitter in the All-Star Game, in 2021: 2 wds. |
| 28% | AISFORALIBI | 11 | Title of the first book in the 17-Across series |
| 27% | WIT | 3 | "___ and wisdom" (phrase in the title of a book of quotes, maybe) |
| 27% | ERNESTHEMINGWAY | 15 | Author of the book whose title is circled in the grid |
| 27% | JKROWLING | 9 | Author of the best-selling book series in history |
| 27% | GOT | 3 | First book in the series "A Song of Ice and Fire," familiarly |
| 27% | ERASMUS | 7 | Desiderius —, Dutch humanist who published the first Greek edition of the New Testament in 1516 |
| 27% | PONCEDELEON | 11 | Explorer who in 1513 became the first European to set foot in 14-Across, and gave the state its name: 3 wds. |
| 26% | HOPPER | 6 | Scientist and naval officer Grace ___ who was one of the first three pioneers in computer programming |
| 26% | EMILYBRONTE | 11 | Author of novel Wuthering Heights, first published in 1847 under the pseudonym Ellis Bell |
| 26% | MOUNTAINMEN | 11 | History Channel series about folks who live and survive in the wilderness (2 wds.) |
| 26% | CATO | 4 | — The Elder, Roman politician and general, author of the first history of Rome |
| 26% | ASTA | 4 | Dog who's female in the book and male in the film |
| 26% | ABE | 3 | "Simpsons" character who first appeared in the cartoon "Grampa and the Kids" |