“Are you saying that God is the author of evil?”
Well, did he or did he not create everything?
And, is he or is he not all-powerful and thus could he not end evil?
“That is a serious charge to level against Him.”
No, it’s a serious charge against those who refuse to use the God- given gift of logic to uncover the inconsistencies of their beliefs.
It is your false dilemma that is a logical fallacy.