[field_author] => Array
        (
            [0] => Array
                (
                    [value] => vxvxzv
                    [view] => vxvxzv
                )

        )



this is what i've tried:

    <li class="author"> <?php print $node->field_author[0]['value']; ?> </li>
    <li class="author"> <?php print $node->field_author[0]['view']; ?> </li>
    <li class="author"> <?php print $field_author[0]['view']; ?> </li>
    <li class="author"> <?php print $field_author[0]['value']; ?> </li>