| 100% | GEORGEELIOT | 11 | Pen name of 18-Across, 30-Across, and "Adam Bede" novelist Mary Ann Evans (2 wds.) |
| 47% | ELIOT | 5 | George ___, pen name of novelist Mary Ann Evans |
| 43% | ELIOT | 5 | George ___ (pen name of novelist Mary Ann Evans) |
| 42% | BEVERLYCLEARY | 13 | Children's author of 18-Across and 30-Across who has a public school named for her in Portland, Oregon (2 wds.) |
| 41% | CORNELIAFUNKE | 13 | Novelist of 18-Across and the "Inkheart" trilogy (2 wds.) |
| 40% | ELIOT | 5 | George ___, pen name of the Victorian writer Mary Ann Evans |
| 40% | RICHARDPOWERS | 13 | Award-winning novelist of 18-Across and 44-Across (2 wds.) |
| 40% | TANAFRENCH | 10 | Bestselling novelist of 18-Across, 31-Across, and 2024's "The Hunter" (2 wds.) |
| 39% | BEVERLYCLEARY | 13 | Children's author of 18-Across and 30-Across who turned 102 on April 12 (2 wds.) |
| 39% | TANAFRENCH | 10 | Bestselling novelist of 18-Across, 31-Across, and 2018's "The Witch Elm" (2 wds.) |
| 39% | GEORGE | 6 | ___ Eliot, pen name of 19th century author Mary Ann Evans known for "Middlemarch" |
| 39% | FRANCESGUMM | 11 | Birth name of 18-Across: 2 wds. |
| 38% | ISAKDINESEN | 11 | Pen name of the author of 19-Across: 2 wds. |
| 37% | BOBBYBROWN | 10 | Former member of 18-Across and singer of 30-Across who turns 50 years old today (2 wds.) |
| 37% | JOHNGRISHAM | 11 | Bestselling novelist known for legal thrillers, including 18-Across and 30-Across (2 wds.) |
| 37% | KRISTINHANNAH | 13 | Bestselling novelist of "The Nightingale," 18-Across, and 39-Across (2 wds.) |
| 37% | ROUNDTABLE | 10 | Meeting place of 18-Across and his knights: 2 wds. |
| 36% | KARENBLIXEN | 11 | Danish author who wrote 17-Across and 30-Across under the pen name Isak Dinesen (2 wds.) |
| 36% | LEECHILD | 8 | Pen name of the British novelist who writes the Jack Reacher novel series (2 wds.) |
| 36% | STEPHENKING | 11 | Author of "The Shining" and 18-Across: 2 wds. |
| 36% | FAYEKELLERMAN | 13 | "The Quality of Mercy" novelist who has written 27 mysteries featuring 18-Across and 40-Across (2 wds.) |
| 35% | ELIOT | 5 | Mary Ann Evans' pen name, goes with George |
| 35% | ANGIETHOMAS | 11 | Author of the young adult novels 30-Across and the upcoming "On the Come Up": 2 wds. |
| 35% | VANPELT | 7 | Last name of Linus and Lucy in 44-Across: 2 wds. |
| 35% | POPSMOKE | 8 | Stage name of rapper Bashar Jackson, who performed 21-Across and 35-/42-Across: 2 wds. |
| 35% | ANNETTEBENING | 13 | Actress and wife of 18-Across, who also appears in "Rules Don't Apply": 2 wds. |
| 34% | MARKTWAIN | 9 | Pen name of the American writer born Samuel Clemens: 2 wds. |
| 34% | GEORGEORWELL | 12 | Pen name of Eric Blair, who wrote "Animal Farm": 2 wds. |
| 34% | LETSGROOVE | 10 | Top 20 song by the band whose name includes the first words of the answers to 18-Across, 26-Across, and 35-Across (2 wds.) |
| 34% | JASONALDEAN | 11 | 17-Across and 30-Across country singer who was named ACM's Artist of the Decade for the 2010s (2 wds.) |