diff --git a/core/models.py b/core/models.py
index 5ad2ef2e..b655ea67 100755
--- a/core/models.py
+++ b/core/models.py
@@ -1066,7 +1066,7 @@ class Work(models.Model):
 
     def cover_image_thumbnail(self):
         try:
-            if self.preferred_edition.cover_image_thumbnail():
+            if self.preferred_edition and self.preferred_edition.cover_image_thumbnail():
                 return self.preferred_edition.cover_image_thumbnail()
         except IndexError:
             pass
@@ -1074,19 +1074,29 @@ class Work(models.Model):
         
     def authors(self):
         # assumes that they come out in the same order they go in!
-        return  self.preferred_edition.authors.all()
+        if self.preferred_edition and self.preferred_edition.authors.all().count()>0:
+            return  self.preferred_edition.authors.all()
+        for edition in self.editions.all():
+            if edition.authors.all().count()>0:
+                return edition.authors.all()
+        return []
         
     def author(self):
         # assumes that they come out in the same order they go in!
         if self.authors().count()>0:
             return self.authors()[0].name
+        return ''
         
-        # just in case that particular edition has no author
-        try:
-            return list(Author.objects.filter(editions__work=self).all()).authors[0].name
-        except:
-            return ''
-        
+    def authors_short(self):
+        # assumes that they come out in the same order they go in!
+        if self.authors().count()==1:
+            return self.authors()[0].name
+        elif self.authors().count()==2:
+            return "%s and %s" % (self.authors()[0].name, self.authors()[1].name)
+        elif self.authors().count()>2:
+            return "%s et al." % self.authors()[0].name
+        return ''
+
     def last_campaign(self):
         # stash away the last campaign to prevent repeated lookups
         if hasattr(self, '_last_campaign_'):
@@ -1102,7 +1112,7 @@ class Work(models.Model):
         if self.last_campaign():
             if self.last_campaign().edition:
                 return self.last_campaign().edition
-        return self.editions.all()[0]
+        return self.editions.all()[0] if self.editions.all().count() else None
         
     def last_campaign_status(self):
         campaign = self.last_campaign()
diff --git a/core/search.py b/core/search.py
index eaf1a274..8b626333 100644
--- a/core/search.py
+++ b/core/search.py
@@ -19,8 +19,14 @@ def gluejar_search(q, user_ip='69.243.24.29', page=1):
                  'googlebooks_id': item.get('id')}
     
             # TODO: allow multiple authors
-            if v.has_key('authors') and len(v['authors']) > 0:
+            if v.has_key('authors') and len(v['authors']) == 1 :
+                r['author'] = r['authors_short'] = v['authors'][0]
+            elif v.has_key('authors') and len(v['authors']) > 2:
                 r['author'] = v['authors'][0]
+                r['authors_short'] =  '%s et al.' % v['authors'][0]
+            elif v.has_key('authors') and len(v['authors']) == 2:
+                r['author'] = v['authors'][0]
+                r['authors_short'] =  '%s and %s' % (v['authors'][0], v['authors'][1])
             else:
                 r['author'] = ""
             r['isbn_13'] = None
diff --git a/frontend/templates/book_panel.html b/frontend/templates/book_panel.html
index 99c65677..8b10f30f 100644
--- a/frontend/templates/book_panel.html
+++ b/frontend/templates/book_panel.html
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 {% with work.first_ebook as first_ebook %}
 {% with work.last_campaign.supporters as supporters %}
 {% with work.cover_image_thumbnail as thumbnail %}
-{% with work.author as author %}
+{% with work.authors_short as author %}
 {% with work.title as title %}
 {% with work.last_campaign as last_campaign %}
 {% with work.last_campaign.status as status %}
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@
         <div class="title">
             <a href="{% if workid %}{% url work workid %}{% else %}{% url googlebooks googlebooks_id %}{% endif %}">{{ title }}</a>
         </div>
-        <div class="listview author {{ author }}">{{ author }}</div>
+        <div class="listview author">{{ author }}</div>
     </div>
     
     {% comment %}same logic as above{% endcomment %}
diff --git a/frontend/templates/claim.html b/frontend/templates/claim.html
index 10b46fd9..ba0953ed 100644
--- a/frontend/templates/claim.html
+++ b/frontend/templates/claim.html
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 <h3> Work being claimed  </h3>
 <ul>
 <li>Title: <a href="{% url work work.id %}">{{ work.title }}</a></li>
-<li>Author: {{ work.author }}</li>
+<li>Author: {{ work.authors_short }}</li>
 </ul>
 {% if active_claims.count %}
 
diff --git a/frontend/templates/front_matter.html b/frontend/templates/front_matter.html
index 2992499d..8aef5758 100644
--- a/frontend/templates/front_matter.html
+++ b/frontend/templates/front_matter.html
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 <!-- trim here -->
 <section epub:type="copyright-page" id="copyright-page">
     <div class="agate-info">
-    <p>© {{ campaign.work.preferred_edition.publication_date }} by {{ campaign.work.author }}</p>
+    <p>© {{ campaign.work.preferred_edition.publication_date }} by {{ campaign.work.authors_short }}</p>
     <p>ISBN: {{ campaign.work.preferred_edition.isbn_13 }} .</p>
     <p>URI: <a href="https://unglue.it/work/{{ campaign.work.id }}/">https://unglue.it/work/{{ campaign.work.id }}/</a> (this work).</p>
     <p><img src="images/unglueitlogo.png" alt="unglue.it logo" /></p>
diff --git a/frontend/templates/manage_campaign.html b/frontend/templates/manage_campaign.html
index 03b4db16..e830e9a5 100644
--- a/frontend/templates/manage_campaign.html
+++ b/frontend/templates/manage_campaign.html
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ Please fix the following before launching your campaign:
 			<h2 class="book-name">{{ work.title }}</h2>
 			<div>
 				<div class="pubinfo">
-					<h3 class="book-author">{{ work.author }}</h3>
+					<h3 class="book-author">{{ work.authors_short }}</h3>
 					<h3 class="book-year">{{ work.publication_date_year }}</h3>
 				</div>
 			</div>
diff --git a/frontend/templates/pledge.html b/frontend/templates/pledge.html
index c72e3027..fe9b89ce 100644
--- a/frontend/templates/pledge.html
+++ b/frontend/templates/pledge.html
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 			<h2 class="book-name"><a href="{% url work work.id %}">{{ work.title }}</a></h2>
 			<div>
 				<div class="pubinfo">
-					<h3 class="book-author">{{ work.author }}</h3>
+					<h3 class="book-author">{{ work.authors_short }}</h3>
 					<h3 class="book-year">{{ work.publication_date_year }}</h3>
 				</div>
 			</div>
diff --git a/frontend/templates/purchase.html b/frontend/templates/purchase.html
index 80fed3ca..bc6c83b7 100644
--- a/frontend/templates/purchase.html
+++ b/frontend/templates/purchase.html
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 			<h2 class="book-name"><a href="{% url work work.id %}">{{ work.title }}</a></h2>
 			<div>
 				<div class="pubinfo">
-					<h3 class="book-author">{{ work.author }}</h3>
+					<h3 class="book-author">{{ work.authors_short }}</h3>
 					<h3 class="book-year">{{ work.publication_date_year }}</h3>
 				</div>
 			</div>
diff --git a/frontend/templates/rh_tools.html b/frontend/templates/rh_tools.html
index 5802d6b1..e3341429 100644
--- a/frontend/templates/rh_tools.html
+++ b/frontend/templates/rh_tools.html
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ Any questions not covered here?  Please email us at <a href="mailto:rights@gluej
 	<dl>
 	{% for claim in claims %}
 		<dt>Title: <a href="{% url work work_id=claim.work.id %}">{{claim.work.title }}</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(work #{{ claim.work.id }})</dt>
-		<dd>Author: {{claim.work.author }}
+		<dd>Author: {{claim.work.authors_short }}
 			<br />On Behalf of: {{ claim.rights_holder.rights_holder_name }}
 			<br />PSA #: {{ claim.rights_holder.id }}
 			<br />Date of Claim : {{ claim.created }}
diff --git a/frontend/templates/rights_holders.html b/frontend/templates/rights_holders.html
index 2422e922..97419755 100644
--- a/frontend/templates/rights_holders.html
+++ b/frontend/templates/rights_holders.html
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 <dl>
 {% for claim, claim_form in pending %}
 	<dt>Title: <a href="{% url work work_id=claim.work.id %}">{{claim.work.title }}</a></dt>
-	<dd>Author: {{claim.work.author }}</dd>
+	<dd>Author: {{claim.work.authors_short }}</dd>
 	<dd>By: {{ claim.user.username }}</dd>
 	<dd>On Behalf of: {{ claim.rights_holder.rights_holder_name }}</dd>
 	<dd>PSA #: {{ claim.rights_holder.id }}</dd>
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
 <dl>
 {% for claim in active_data %}
 	<dt>Title: <a href="{% url work work_id=claim.work.id %}">{{claim.work.title }}</a></dt>
-	<dd>Author: {{claim.work.author }}</dd>
+	<dd>Author: {{claim.work.authors_short }}</dd>
 	<dd>By: {{ claim.user.username }}</dd>
 	<dd>On Behalf of: {{ claim.rights_holder.rights_holder_name }}</dd>
 	<dd>PSA #: {{ claim.rights_holder.id }}</dd>
diff --git a/frontend/templates/work.html b/frontend/templates/work.html
index bbb6fd60..d0e6e9fb 100644
--- a/frontend/templates/work.html
+++ b/frontend/templates/work.html
@@ -86,7 +86,19 @@
                                     <h2 class="book-name" itemprop="name">{{ work.title }}</h2>
                                 <div>
                                         <div class="pubinfo">
-                                            <h3 class="book-author" itemprop="author">{{ work.author }}</h3>
+                                            <h3 class="book-author">
+                                            <span  itemprop="author">{{ work.authors.0.name }}</span>
+                                            {% ifequal work.authors.count 2 %}
+                                                and <span  itemprop="author">{{ work.authors.1.name }}
+                                            {% endifequal %}
+                                            {% if work.authors.count > 2 %}
+                                                {% for author in work.authors %}
+                                                    {% if not forloop.first %}
+                                                    , <span  itemprop="author">{{ author.name }} </span>
+                                                    {% endif %}
+                                                {% endfor %}
+                                            {% endif %}
+                                            </h3>
                                             <h3 class="book-year"> 
                                                 {% if work.last_campaign.publisher %}
                                                 <span itemprop="publisher"><a href="{% url bypubname_list work.last_campaign.publisher.name.id %}">{{ work.last_campaign.publisher }}</a></span>