def compile_authors(cell):
    """
    Split the string of author names into the BibJSON format.
    :param str cell: Data from author cell
    :return: (list of dicts) Author names
    """
    logger_excel.info("enter compile_authors")
    author_lst = []
    s = cell.split(';')
    for w in s:
        author_lst.append(w.lstrip())
    logger_excel.info("exit compile_authors")
    return author_lst