diff --git a/foodie_utils.py b/foodie_utils.py
index 22ed2be..2a1eb06 100644
--- a/foodie_utils.py
+++ b/foodie_utils.py
@@ -45,13 +45,27 @@ IMAGE_UPLOAD_TIMEOUT = 30  # Added to fix NameError
 IMAGE_EXPIRATION_DAYS = 7  # 7 days, consistent with foodie_automator_rss.py
 
 def load_json_file(file_path, expiration_hours=None, default=None):
+    """
+    Load JSON file, handling specific cases for author_state.json and other files.
+    Args:
+        file_path (str): Path to the JSON file.
+        expiration_hours (float): Hours after which entries expire (for list-based files).
+        default: Default value to return if file is missing or invalid.
+    Returns:
+        Loaded data or default value.
+    """
     logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+    
+    # Set default based on file type
     if default is None:
-        if "rate_limit_info" in file_path or "notification_tracking" in file_path:
+        if "author_state" in file_path:
+            default = {"last_author_index": -1}
+        elif "rate_limit_info" in file_path or "notification_tracking" in file_path:
             default = {}
         else:
             default = []
     
+    # Return default if file doesn't exist
     if not os.path.exists(file_path):
         logger.info(f"File {file_path} does not exist. Returning default: {default}")
         return default
@@ -60,18 +74,29 @@ def load_json_file(file_path, expiration_hours=None, default=None):
         with open(file_path, 'r') as f:
             data = json.load(f)
         
-        # Handle rate_limit_info.json and notification_tracking.json as dicts
+        # Handle author_state.json (expects dict with last_author_index)
+        if "author_state" in file_path:
+            if not isinstance(data, dict):
+                logger.warning(f"Data in {file_path} is not a dictionary, resetting to default")
+                return default
+            if "last_author_index" not in data:
+                logger.warning(f"Missing last_author_index in {file_path}, resetting to default")
+                return default
+            return data
+        
+        # Handle rate_limit_info.json and notification_tracking.json (expect dict)
         if "rate_limit_info" in file_path or "notification_tracking" in file_path:
             if not isinstance(data, dict):
                 logger.warning(f"Data in {file_path} is not a dictionary, resetting to default")
                 return default
             return data
         
-        # For other files, expect a list
+        # Handle list-based files
         if not isinstance(data, list):
             logger.warning(f"Data in {file_path} is not a list, resetting to default")
             return default
         
+        # Apply expiration filtering for list-based files
         if expiration_hours is not None:
             # Use days for used_images.json, hours for others
             if "used_images" in file_path: