1. Information You Provide
Depending on how you interact with Echo Ink Books, you may provide information such as your name, email address, contact information, newsletter preferences, messages submitted through forms, author or member information, biographies, photographs, book information, descriptions, covers, links, and information submitted through applications or inquiries.
2. Information Collected Automatically
Our website and hosting environment may automatically collect technical information such as IP address, browser type, device type, pages visited, referring website, date and time of access, and basic diagnostic information.
3. Google Analytics
Echo Ink Books uses Google Analytics to help us understand how visitors use the website and how the site can be improved. Google Analytics may collect information about your device, browser, approximate location, interactions with pages, and referral source through cookies or similar technologies.
Google’s handling of information is governed by Google’s own privacy policies and settings. Browser controls and other available tools may allow you to limit or block analytics cookies.
4. How We Use Information
We may use information to respond to inquiries, review author applications, manage author and member relationships, maintain book and author listings, provide requested services, send requested communications, improve website content and functionality, protect the security of our systems, and comply with legal obligations.
5. Email Communications and General Announcements
People who affirmatively choose to receive general Echo Ink Books announcements may receive updates no more than biweekly. These communications may include new book announcements, author announcements, new articles, new resources, new website features, and other additions to the Echo Ink community.
You may unsubscribe from general announcements at any time using the unsubscribe option in the message or by contacting us.
Administrative or transactional messages related to an application, active membership, billing, renewal, cancellation, or other requested service may still be sent when necessary.
6. Membership Communications After Membership Ends
Ending an Echo Ink Books membership does not automatically unsubscribe a former member from general announcements that the member previously elected to receive. Former members may unsubscribe from general announcements at any time.
7. Square Payment Processing
After an author’s membership application is approved, Echo Ink Books may send payment instructions using Square. Payment information submitted to Square is processed by Square under Square’s own terms and privacy practices.
Echo Ink Books does not need to receive or store your complete payment-card number when Square processes the transaction.
8. Public Author and Member Information
Information intended for an author profile, book listing, or other public feature may be displayed publicly on the Echo Ink Books website. Authors and members should not submit private information for public display unless they want that information published.
9. Children’s Privacy
Echo Ink Books publishes and promotes books for children, but the website and its business services are intended to be used by adults, including parents, guardians, educators, authors, and readers.
We do not knowingly request that children provide personal information directly to Echo Ink Books without appropriate adult involvement. If we learn that personal information from a child has been collected inappropriately, we will take reasonable steps to address the situation.
10. Service Providers and Third Parties
Echo Ink Books may use hosting providers, analytics providers, email services, website technology providers, payment services, and other vendors necessary to operate the business. These providers may process information as necessary to perform services on our behalf.
Our website may also link to bookstores, retailers, author websites, and social media platforms. Information you provide directly to those services is governed by their privacy practices.
11. Information Sharing
Echo Ink Books does not sell personal information. We may share information when reasonably necessary to provide a requested service, work with service providers supporting our operations, protect Echo Ink Books or others, comply with applicable law or valid legal requests, or complete a lawful business transition.
12. Data Security and Retention
We use reasonable administrative and technical measures intended to protect information in our possession. No internet-based system can guarantee absolute security.
Information may be retained for as long as reasonably necessary to provide services, maintain appropriate business records, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, and comply with applicable legal obligations.
13. Your Choices
You may contact Echo Ink Books to request correction or deletion of personal information we maintain about you, subject to legal, contractual, and operational requirements. You may also unsubscribe from general announcements at any time.
14. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy as our website, technology, and services evolve. The current version will be posted on this page.