Literary riddles

[Danik 2016]

I am trying to import a game, forgive me PB, which is very popular on another forum I am on. It consists in proposing a riddle about an known author(poetry or prose writer), work or anything related to both. For example, one can ask about a known literary figure or event or have to guess the name of the author by a given biographical detail.

The challenge for the author of the riddle is to propose a riddle that is neither to difficult nor to easy for its readers.

The challenge for the readers is to ask good questions.

Winner is the one who with the definitive answer( there maybe partial solutions)

I´ll start with what I think is a very easy riddle.

I am looking for an author with a pen name derived of a nautical reference. There is also a river that is emblematic for some of his fiction.

I am looking for

[Pompey Bum]

I am trying to import a game, forgive me PB

Not at all, Danik. It smacks of fun. I can tell the answer already, though, so I'll let others guess for now. If they get stumped, I'll take my shot.

[Danik 2016]

Thanks PB. I'm sure that you know the answer.

[Danik 2016]

I forgot to say that the winner proposes the next riddle. Unfortunately it is impossible to edit the text above.

[Danik 2016]

Questions anyone?

[Pompey Bum]

Let's model this for then, Danik.

Mystery guest, did you write any novels?

(Do they have to be yes/no questions, by the way?).

[ennison]

Mark Twain?

[Pompey Bum]

Of course it's Mark Twain! Okay, Ennison, your turn. (See how easy that was, Danik?).

[Pompey Bum]

And he's gone. People don't even read the thread.

Okay, under the circumstances, in the interests of furthering Danik's game, and because I already knew the previous answer was Mark Twain ("mark twain " is a measurement on a sounding plumb), I will usurp Ennison's position as Riddler. (I'll pay him back later if he wants).

Well loved taxman of days gone past;
Play with fire and you'll get these fast.

That's the hint. Remember you don't have to know right away. You're just supposed to ask questions. For now, let's say they have to be yes/no questions.
.

[Danik 2016]

Let's model this for then, Danik.

Mystery guest, did you write any novels?

(Do they have to be yes/no questions, by the way?).

Sorry, I was away, people.

Any kind of more general questions can be asked, unless we make our own rules, which is also possible.

[Danik 2016]

Of course it's Mark Twain! Okay, Ennison, your turn. (See how easy that was, Danik?).

Congrats, Ennison!This first riddle was meant to be easy!

[Danik 2016]

Thanks for substituting me, PB and for furthering the game. But shouldn´t we have waited a bit more for ennison? Things go slowly on LitNet these days.

Anyway, your riddle is next.

[Pompey Bum]

Let's keep it to yes/no questions. Open-ended ones make it too easy. What books have you written? Animal Farm, 1984. See what I mean?

[Danik 2016]

OK, so it´s a rule.

[Pompey Bum]

Good, now ask me a question.