diff --git a/lib/stagehand.dart b/lib/stagehand.dart
index 3d05a789..856e5fa3 100644
--- a/lib/stagehand.dart
+++ b/lib/stagehand.dart
@@ -104,7 +104,8 @@ abstract class Generator implements Comparable<Generator> {
     Map vars = {
       'projectName': projectName,
       'description': description,
-      'year': new DateTime.now().year.toString()
+      'year': new DateTime.now().year.toString(),
+      'author': '<your name>'
     };
 
     if (additionalVars != null) {
@@ -113,10 +114,6 @@ abstract class Generator implements Comparable<Generator> {
       });
     }
 
-    if (!vars.containsKey('author')) {
-      vars['author'] = '<your name>';
-    }
-
     return Future.forEach(files, (TemplateFile file) {
       var resultFile = file.runSubstitution(vars);
       String filePath = resultFile.path;