diff --git a/orm/shout.py b/orm/shout.py
index 968b7dbb..cba6bddb 100644
--- a/orm/shout.py
+++ b/orm/shout.py
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ class Shout(Base):
     body = Column(String, nullable=False, comment="Body")
     slug = Column(String, unique=True)
     cover = Column(String, nullable=True, comment="Cover image url")
+    cover_caption = Column(String, nullable=True, comment="Cover image alt caption")
     lead = Column(String, nullable=True)
     description = Column(String, nullable=True)
     title = Column(String, nullable=True)
diff --git a/resolvers/author.py b/resolvers/author.py
index 1bd255db..f6f308a1 100644
--- a/resolvers/author.py
+++ b/resolvers/author.py
@@ -173,7 +173,10 @@ async def get_author(_, _info, slug="", user=None, author_id=None):
         q = add_author_stat_columns(q)
 
         authors = get_authors_from_query(q)
-        return authors[0]
+        if authors:
+            return authors.pop()
+        else:
+            return {"error": "cant find author"}
 
 
 @query.field("load_authors_by")
@@ -201,15 +204,19 @@ async def load_authors_by(_, _info, by, limit, offset):
 
 @query.field("get_author_followed")
 async def get_author_followed(_, _info, slug="", user=None, author_id=None) -> List[Author]:
-    # First, we need to get the author_id for the given slug
-    with local_session() as session:
+    author_id_query = None
+    if slug:
         author_id_query = select(Author.id).where(Author.slug == slug)
-        author_id = session.execute(author_id_query).scalar()
+    elif user:
+        author_id_query = select(Author.id).where(Author.user == user)
+    if not author_id:
+        with local_session() as session:
+            author_id = session.execute(author_id_query).scalar()
 
     if author_id is None:
         raise ValueError("Author not found")
-
-    return await followed_authors(author_id)
+    else:
+        return await followed_authors(author_id)  # Author[]
 
 
 @query.field("get_author_followers")
diff --git a/schemas/core.graphql b/schemas/core.graphql
index 2f7a4ef4..98d5775d 100644
--- a/schemas/core.graphql
+++ b/schemas/core.graphql
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ type Shout {
   lang: String
   community: String
   cover: String
+  cover_caption: String
   layout: String
   version_of: String
   visibility: ShoutVisibility