diff --git a/services/core.py b/services/core.py
index fddf587..926c0a1 100644
--- a/services/core.py
+++ b/services/core.py
@@ -11,14 +11,15 @@ async def get_author(author_id):
     gql = {
         "query": "query GetAuthor { getAuthor(author_id: Int!) { id slug userpic name lastSeen } }",
         "operation": "GetAuthor",
-        "variables": { "author_id" : author_id }
+        "variables": {"author_id": author_id}
     }
     try:
         async with AsyncClient() as client:
             response = await client.post(API_BASE, headers=headers, data=gql)
             if response.status_code != 200:
-                return False, None
+                return None
             r = response.json()
+            print(f"[services.core] got author: {author}")
             author = r.get("data", {}).get("getAuthor")
             return author
     except Exception: