diff --git a/mind_palace/docs.py b/mind_palace/docs.py
index a62fa5f..64148b1 100644
--- a/mind_palace/docs.py
+++ b/mind_palace/docs.py
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-from llama_index.schema import TextNode, NodeRelationship, RelatedNodeInfo
 import grobid_tei_xml
+from llama_index.schema import NodeRelationship, RelatedNodeInfo, TextNode
 
 
 def load_tei_xml(file_path):
@@ -8,6 +8,14 @@ def load_tei_xml(file_path):
         return grobid_tei_xml.parse_document_xml(xml_file.read())
 
 
+def cite_authors(xml):
+    first_author = xml.header.authors[0]
+    first_author_display_name = f"{first_author.surname}, {first_author.given_name}"
+    return first_author_display_name + (
+        ", et al." if len(xml.header.authors) > 1 else "."
+    )
+
+
 def title(xml, doc_id):
     return TextNode(
         text=xml.header.title,
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_docs.py b/tests/unit/test_docs.py
index fc7547d..f6305a5 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_docs.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_docs.py
@@ -1,10 +1,25 @@
-from tests.context import docs
+from unittest.mock import MagicMock
+
 import grobid_tei_xml.types as grobid_types
-from llama_index.schema import TextNode, NodeRelationship
+from llama_index.schema import NodeRelationship, TextNode
+
+from tests.context import docs
 
 XML_PATH = "./resources/xmls/12-pdfs-from-steve-aug-22/"
 
 
+def test_cite_authors():
+    xml = MagicMock()
+    xml.header.authors = [
+        MagicMock(surname="Doe", given_name="John"),
+        MagicMock(surname="Smith", given_name="Jane"),
+    ]
+    assert docs.cite_authors(xml) == "Doe, John, et al."
+
+    xml.header.authors = [MagicMock(surname="Doe", given_name="John")]
+    assert docs.cite_authors(xml) == "Doe, John."
+
+
 def gen_nodes():
     return [
         TextNode(text="this is first"),