| 100% | DONNA | 5 | With 35-Across, Mississippi-born author of "The Goldfinch" |
| 65% | WILLIAM | 7 | With 35-Across, author of the classic dystopian novel "Lord of the Flies" |
| 61% | CURTIS | 6 | With 35-Across, Pennsylvania-born Football Hall of Famer who attended the University of Pittsburgh |
| 60% | RUDYARD | 7 | With 42 Across, British author of ''How the Camel Got His Hump'' |
| 58% | TARTT | 5 | Pulitzer-winning author of The Goldfinch |
| 56% | ALEXANDERPOPE | 13 | Author of the verse that starts with the beginnings of 20-, 34- and 42-Across |
| 55% | KATEY | 5 | With 35-Across, "Sons of Anarchy" actress who plays the title character in "Rebel" |
| 55% | ANTHONY | 7 | With 35-Across, first pick of the 2013 NBA draft, taken by the Cleveland Cavaliers |
| 55% | WILLY | 5 | With 35-Across, the lead role in Arthur Miller's play "Death of a Salesman" |
| 54% | AARON | 5 | With 35-Across, Yankee right fielder who broke the records of 18-Across and 38-Across |
| 53% | JOE | 3 | With 43-Across, author of the quote |
| 53% | MARGARET | 8 | With 53-Across, author of the quote |
| 53% | NASTIA | 6 | With 35-Across, 2008 Olympic gold medalist inducted into the International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2018 |
| 53% | ANNERICE | 8 | Author of Interview with the Vampire |
| 53% | ANNERICE | 8 | Author of "Interview With the Vampire" |
| 53% | AESOP | 5 | Author of "The Lion, the Bear and the Fox" |
| 53% | HARRY | 5 | With 35-Across, longtime White Sox and Cubs sportscaster inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 1994 |
| 52% | PUZO | 4 | Author of the line "It means Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes" |
| 52% | IRENE | 5 | With 35-Across, player of Granny on “The Beverly Hillbillies” |
| 52% | CALLMEBY | 8 | With 35-Across, subtitle of 15-Across that is also the title of a 2017 romance film: 3 wds. |
| 52% | AUEL | 4 | "Clan of the Cave Bear" author |
| 51% | EUDORAWELTY | 11 | Mississippi-born author of "The Optimist's Daughter": 2 wds. |
| 51% | ANGIETHOMAS | 11 | Mississippi-born author of "The Hate U Give": 2 wds. |
| 51% | LYTE | 4 | Henry Francis —, author of the words of hymn Abide with Me |
| 51% | ALBERT | 6 | With 23-Across, author of the general theory of relativity |
| 51% | THESHOEISONTHE | 14 | With 35 Across, "I've turned the tables on you" |
| 51% | ALGREN | 6 | Nelson ___, author of "The Man With the Golden Arm" |
| 51% | CAPEK | 5 | Author of sci-fi's "War With the Newts" |
| 51% | MITCHELL | 8 | Margaret __; author of Gone With The Wind |
| 51% | GIGIHADID | 9 | Supermodel with 35 appearances on the cover of "Vogue" who co-hosts 32-Across (2 wds.) |