def METHOD_NAME(author):
    """
    Looks for an existing Author record in OL by name
    and returns it if found.
    :param dict author: Author import dict {"name": "Some One"}
    :rtype: dict|None
    :return: Existing Author record, if one is found
    """
    name = author['name']
    things = find_author(name)
    et = author.get('entity_type')
    if et and et != 'person':
        if not things:
            return None
        db_entity = things[0]
        assert db_entity['type']['key'] == '/type/author'
        return db_entity
    if ', ' in name:
        things += find_author(flip_name(name))
    match = []
    seen = set()
    for a in things:
        key = a['key']
        if key in seen:
            continue
        seen.add(key)
        orig_key = key
        assert a.type.key == '/type/author'
        if 'birth_date' in author and 'birth_date' not in a:
            continue
        if 'birth_date' not in author and 'birth_date' in a:
            continue
        if not author_dates_match(author, a):
            continue
        match.append(a)
    if not match:
        return None
    if len(match) == 1:
        return match[0]
    return pick_from_matches(author, match)