USA TODAY Crossword · 27-Down · 5 letters

"Fear of Flying" author Jong USA TODAY Crossword clue

Editorially reviewed August 26, 2026

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Identity cue

Enter the five-letter first name of novelist Jong.

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Answer

ERICA

Why this is the right reference

ERICA fits because it is Jong's five-letter first name, while the quoted novel identifies the author precisely.

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Reference to identify

A quoted book title plus surname conventionally asks for the author's first name.

Who or what the answer is

Erica Jong is an American writer whose 1973 novel is titled "Fear of Flying."

Where this clue appeared

27-Down in USA TODAY Crossword puzzle for August 26, 2026.

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