| 100% | GILLIANFLYNN | 12 | Suspense novelist whose book was the basis for the movie "Gone Girl": 2 wds. |
| 86% | ELMORELEONARD | 13 | Suspense novelist whose book was the basis for the movie "Get Shorty": 2 wds. |
| 84% | THOMASHARRIS | 12 | Suspense novelist whose book was the basis for the movie "The Silence of the Lambs": 2 wds. |
| 51% | STEPHENKING | 11 | Horror writer whose stories are the basis for the Hulu series "Castle Rock": 2 wds. |
| 48% | OTISWILLIAMS | 12 | Only surviving original member of 34-Across, whose memoir is the basis for 19-Across: 2 wds. |
| 43% | AVNIDOSHI | 9 | American writer whose debut novel, "Burnt Sugar," was shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize (2 wds.) |
| 43% | BRANDONTAYLOR | 13 | American writer whose debut novel, "Real Life," was shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize (2 wds.) |
| 41% | DIANAGABALDON | 13 | Writer whose novels are the basis of the "Outlander" TV series (2 wds.) |
| 41% | KATHYREICHS | 11 | Writer whose novels are the basis of the "Bones" TV series (2 wds.) |
| 41% | DIANECOOK | 9 | American writer whose debut novel, "The New Wilderness," was shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize (2 wds.) |
| 41% | LABOHEME | 8 | Opera by Puccini that is the basis for the film "Rent" (2 wds) |
| 40% | NEVERLET | 8 | "___ Me Go," 2005 novel by Kazuo Ishiguro for which he won the ALA Alex Award and which was also adapted into a movie: 2 wds. |
| 40% | TESSGERRITSEN | 13 | Writer whose novels are the basis of the "Rizzoli & Isles" TV series (2 wds.) |
| 40% | STANLEE | 7 | Comic book legend whose name is an anagram of the word "leanest": 2 wds. |
| 40% | DIRTYDANCING | 12 | 1987 Patrick Swayze movie whose soundtrack topped the charts for 18 weeks: 2 wds. |
| 40% | DUSTINDIAMOND | 13 | "Saved by the Bell" actor whose surname is a place for baseball: 2 wds. |
| 40% | FIFTYSHADES | 11 | Erotic trilogy whose first book is being adapted into a movie: 2 wds. |
| 40% | GALGADOT | 8 | Israeli actress whose first Hollywood movie was the 2009 "Fast & Furious": 2 wds. |
| 40% | ELMORELEONARD | 13 | Crime writer whose 1990 novel is the inspiration for 13-Down: 2 wds. |
| 40% | LAURENGROFF | 11 | "Fates and Furies" author whose "Florida" was nominated for the 2018 National Book Award for Fiction (2 wds.) |
| 40% | JESMYNWARD | 10 | Mississippi novelist who is the only woman to win the National Book Award for Fiction twice (2 wds.) |
| 39% | STEPHENKING | 11 | Author of "It," based on whose books movies such as "The Shining" have been also been made: 2 wds. |
| 39% | REBECCAMAKKAI | 13 | "Music for Wartime" author whose "The Great Believers" was nominated for the 2018 National Book Award for Fiction (2 wds.) |
| 38% | JOEYFATONE | 10 | Former 'N Sync singer whose first name is also the term for a baby kangaroo: 2 wds. |
| 38% | KITHARINGTON | 12 | "Game of Thrones" actor whose first name is also the term for a baby fox: 2 wds. |
| 38% | SUICIDESQUAD | 12 | Comic book movie whose soundtrack topped the Billboard charts in 2016: 2 wds. |
| 38% | RICHARDPOWERS | 13 | American novelist whose novel "The Overstory" won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2019: 2 wds. |
| 38% | ALANIS | 6 | Singer Morissette whose music is the basis for the Broadway musical "Jagged Little Pill" |
| 38% | CARLHIAASEN | 11 | "Razor Girl" novelist whose birthday is March 12 (2 wds.) |
| 38% | CHICKCOREA | 10 | 23-time Grammy-winning jazz pianist whose first name is also the term for a baby bird: 2 wds. |