The author's persona is the main created character in a fiction or non-fiction novel
The coordinating conjunction in the sentence is NOR.
There are only seven coordinating conjunctions. Remember the terms FAN BOYS in relation to coordinating conjunctions.
F - for
A - and
N - nor
B - but
O - or
Y - yet
S - so
Coordinating conjunctions connect words, phrases, and clauses. Giving equal emphasis on two main clauses.
Here are the patterns for using coordinating conjunctions:
1) connecting two main clauses
main clause + coordinating conjunction + main clause
2) connecting two items
item + coordinating conjunction + item
3) connecting three or more items in a series
item + item + coordinating conjunction + item
Here is what I found,
The highest point of conflict is when they draw again, and Tessie herself is determined to be the character who will die, which is the climax: "It's Tessie," Mr. Summers said, and his voice was hushed.
Because they wanted to stay because of the flowers, like brain washed
There is a number of words or phrases that you could use to help smooth the transition between sentence 1 and sentence 2, and here are some of them: also, in addition, additionally, furthermore, moreover, on top of that, etc. The meaning of the second sentence adds on top of the first one - so any of these transition words would be a good choice.