| 100% | NICCIFRENCH | 11 | Pseudonymous writing team who authored thrillers Beneath the Skin and Killing Me Softly |
| 30% | ROALD | 5 | Author Dahl who wrote "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" |
| 29% | PIKE | 4 | American author Christopher ___ who wrote the "Remember Me" book series |
| 28% | TESS | 4 | Author Gerritsen who writes about the crime-solving duo of Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles |
| 28% | BEVERLYCLEARY | 13 | Children's author who wrote the novel "Ramona and Her Mother" (2 wds.) |
| 28% | GREEN | 5 | John ___, American author and YouTuber who wrote the best-selling novel "Paper Towns" |
| 28% | GILLIANFLYNN | 12 | Author who wrote the novels from which 17-Across and 29-/31-Across were adapted: 2 wds. |
| 28% | DAVIDBALDACCI | 13 | Lawyer who wrote the thrillers "The Whole Truth" and "Deliver Us From Evil": 2 wds. |
| 28% | DANBROWN | 8 | American author who wrote the bestselling thriller series including "The Da Vinci Code": 2 wds. |
| 28% | CARLHIAASEN | 11 | "Squeeze Me" author who wrote the novel that 49-Across is based on (2 wds.) |
| 28% | RUDYARDKIPLING | 14 | English author who wrote the children's literature at 18- and 41-Across: 2 wds. |
| 27% | SHEL | 4 | Author and cartoonist Silverstein who wrote "The Giving Tree" |
| 27% | MIRANDAJULY | 11 | Author and filmmaker who wrote “The First Bad Man” |
| 27% | SARA | 4 | Author Paretsky who wrote the V.I. Warshawski novels |
| 27% | JASONREYNOLDS | 13 | Author who has written "Ghost," "Patina," and other novels for kids in the middle school years: 2 wds. |
| 27% | MITSKI | 6 | Singer who wrote the lyric "Give me one good movie kiss and I'll be alright" |
| 27% | DANIELLESTEEL | 13 | American author who wrote "A Perfect Life" and is currently the bestselling author alive: 2 wds. |
| 27% | ERICAJONG | 9 | Author who wrote "Show me a woman who doesn't feel guilty and I'll show you a man" |
| 27% | TANEHISICOATES | 14 | Author and journalist who wrote “The Case for Reparations” (2014) |
| 27% | GLOVES | 6 | I'm the second skin that protects chemist's hands and I always come in pairs. Who am I? |
| 27% | TANEHISI | 8 | Coates who wrote "Between the World and Me" |
| 27% | KARENBLIXEN | 11 | Danish author who wrote 17-Across and 30-Across under the pen name Isak Dinesen (2 wds.) |
| 27% | TANEHISICOATES | 14 | "Between the World and Me" author who won a "genius grant" in 2015: 2 wds. |
| 27% | BALDACCI | 8 | Best-selling author David who writes the “King and Maxwell” novels |
| 26% | SHELDONSIEGEL | 13 | Lawyer who wrote the thrillers "Final Verdict" and "Criminal Intent": 2 wds. |
| 26% | MEGGARDINER | 11 | Lawyer who wrote the thrillers "China Lake" and "The Nightmare Thief": 2 wds. |
| 26% | LISASCOTTOLINE | 14 | Lawyer who wrote the thrillers "Look Again" and "Don't Go": 2 wds. |
| 26% | KAFKA | 5 | Author Franz who wrote "The Metamorphosis" and "The Trial" |
| 26% | DEAN | 4 | Author Koontz who writes thrillers |