| MACONIE | - - - Blackman, former Children's Laureate and writer of the Noughts & Crosses books (7) |
| MALORIE | ___ Blackman, former Children's Laureate (7) |
| BLACKMAN | Malorie ---, British author of the Noughts & Crosses series of young adult novels (8) |
| STRUGGLE | "Say not the ... nought availeth" (Clough) |
| NAIPAUL | Nobel laureate and author of A Bend In The River, VS ... |
| PUSHKIN | Russian poet and writer of The Queen of Spades (7) |
| STEPHEN | - - - Merchant, comedian and writer of The Office, pictured above (7) |
| RIDDELL | British writer and illustrator; the UK Children's Laureate (2015-17) |
| MICHAEL | Novelist and poet who succeeded Jacqueline Wilson as Children's Laureate in 2007 (7,5) |
| DORIS | Nobel laureate and author of The Good Terrorist (1985) (5,7) |
| WILSON | Former Children's Laureate noted for tackling tough topics in her books for young readers, including Dustbin Baby and The Illustrated Mum (6) |
| MICHAELMORPURGO | Former Children's Laureate who wrote the 1982 novel War Horse (7,8) |
| KIDSRUS | Former children's clothing chain |
| DORISLESSING | Nobel laureate and author of The Golden Notebook |
| PAMUK | Nobel Laureate and author of My Name Is Red (surname only) |
| IDLE | Comic actor and writer of The Philosopher's Song and Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life (from The Life Of Brian), Eric ... |
| NEILHANNON | Frontman of the pop band The Divine Comedy and writer of the theme tune to the TV sitcom Father Ted |
| BRONTE | Charlotte -; the eldest of three literary sisters and writer of the novels Jane Eyre, Shirley and Villette under the pen name Currer Bell (6) |
| MILNE | Creator of Winnie-the-Pooh and writer of the play Toad of Toad Hall (5) |
| TOE | With "tick" and "tack", the game noughts and crosses; or, one of the digits of the human foot (3) |
