Privacy Policy

The Indie Author Insider Online Bookstore Effective Date: November 7, 2026 Last Updated: November 7, 2026 1. Introduction Welcome to The Indie Author Insider Online Bookstore! We value our customers, authors, readers, and the trust you place in us when shopping with our business. Protecting your personal information is important to us, and we believe in being transparent about how information is collected, used, stored, and shared. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you visit our website, make a purchase, sign up for communications, submit a review, participate in a promotion, or otherwise interact with our bookstore. By using our website or services, you acknowledge that you have had the opportunity to review this Privacy Policy. Business: The Indie Author Insider Online Bookstore Location: Kansas, United States Website: www.theindieauthorinsider.com Privacy Contact: info@theindieauthorinsider.com 2. Information We Collect We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide when interacting with our bookstore. Depending on how you interact with us, this information may include: • Contact Information: Your name, email address, phone number, billing address, and shipping address. • Order Information: Books purchased, order history, quantities, order dates, shipping preferences, and transaction details. • Payment Information: Payment-related information necessary to complete your purchase. Payments are processed through Square and its payment processing systems. • Marketing Information: Your email address and communication preferences when you subscribe to our newsletter or promotional communications. • Reviews and Submissions: Reviews, comments, photographs, and other content you voluntarily submit through our website. • Promotional Information: Information submitted when entering giveaways, contests, special promotions, or other bookstore activities. • Communication Information: Information you provide when contacting us with questions, concerns, or requests. We do not require customers to create an account to make purchases through our online bookstore. We do not intentionally collect more personal information than is reasonably necessary to operate our bookstore and provide our services. 3. How We Use Your Information We use the information we collect for legitimate business purposes, including: • Processing and fulfilling customer orders. • Arranging shipping and delivery. • Communicating order confirmations, shipping updates, and other transaction-related information. • Responding to customer questions and providing customer support. • Sending newsletters, bookstore announcements, promotional emails, and special offers when you have subscribed or otherwise provided appropriate permission. • Administering giveaways, contests, and promotional activities. • Displaying customer reviews, comments, and voluntarily submitted photographs. • Maintaining business records and meeting legal, tax, and accounting obligations. • Preventing fraudulent transactions and protecting our business and customers. • Improving our website, shopping experience, and customer services. We do not use customer information for purposes unrelated to our business without an appropriate legal basis or permission where required. 4. Payment Processing Our online bookstore uses Square to facilitate payment processing and related transactions. When you make a purchase, certain information is shared with Square to complete and process your transaction. This may include your name, billing information, shipping information, transaction details, and payment-related information. Square independently handles certain payment information in accordance with its own privacy practices and security procedures. We do not intentionally store complete credit or debit card numbers or security codes on our own systems. For additional information about how Square handles personal information, please review Square's privacy notices: https://squareup.com/us/en/legal/general/privacy-no-account 5. When We Share Your Information We respect customer privacy and do not provide customer information to third parties simply because they request it. However, certain information may be shared when necessary to operate our bookstore and fulfill our obligations. This may include: Payment Processors: Square and its associated payment processing partners to facilitate transactions. Shipping and Delivery Providers: Shipping carriers and delivery services to process shipments and deliver customer orders. Authors and Publishers: In limited circumstances, we may share relevant customer information with an author or publisher when necessary to fulfill an order, coordinate an authorized shipment, or facilitate a customer-requested transaction. We do not provide authors or publishers with unrestricted access to our customer lists. Business and Technology Providers: Third-party companies that help us operate our website, manage communications, maintain business records, process orders, or provide other necessary business services. Legal and Regulatory Authorities: Information may be disclosed when required by law, legal process, court order, or to protect our legal rights and the safety of others. We do not authorize third parties receiving information on our behalf to use it for purposes unrelated to the services they provide, subject to their independent legal obligations and privacy practices. 6. Email Marketing and Communications When you subscribe to our newsletter or promotional communications, we may use your email address to send: • Bookstore announcements and updates. • New release and featured book announcements. • Special promotions and sales. • Giveaways and event announcements. • Author and publisher features. • Other bookstore-related news and updates. We use third-party email marketing services to manage and distribute these communications. You may unsubscribe from promotional emails at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in the email. Please understand that unsubscribing from promotional communications does not prevent us from sending necessary transactional communications, such as order confirmations, shipping notifications, or responses to customer inquiries. We do not intentionally add customers to promotional mailing lists without an appropriate subscription, consent, or other lawful basis. 7. Cookies and Website Tracking Technologies Our website and third-party service providers may use cookies and similar technologies to support website functionality, improve the shopping experience, understand website activity, and maintain security. These technologies may collect information such as: • IP address. • Browser type and device information. • Pages visited. • Website activity and interactions. • Referral sources. • General website usage information. Some cookies may be necessary for the website and checkout process to function properly. Other technologies may be used for analytics, performance monitoring, or advertising, depending on the services enabled on our website. We use Square as our online commerce platform. Square and its service providers may use cookies and other tracking technologies as described in their own privacy notices. You may be able to manage certain cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality. If applicable privacy laws require consent for particular tracking technologies, we will provide the required notices and consent options. 8. Customer Reviews, Comments, and Photographs We welcome customer feedback and appreciate readers who take the time to share their experiences with our bookstore and the books we carry. If you voluntarily submit a review, comment, photograph, or other content through our website, you understand that the information may be displayed publicly. Depending on the submission, publicly displayed information may include your name, username, review, photograph, or other content you choose to provide. Please do not include sensitive personal information in public reviews or submissions. By submitting content, you grant us permission to display and use that content in connection with our bookstore, website, and related promotional activities, subject to applicable law and the terms governing your submission. If you would like a review, photograph, or other submission removed, please contact us using the information provided in this policy. We will review removal requests and respond as appropriate. 9. Giveaways, Contests, and Promotions From time to time, we may host giveaways, contests, promotional events, or other reader and author engagement activities. When participating, you may be asked to provide information such as your name, email address, mailing address, or other information reasonably necessary to administer the promotion. We use this information to: • Verify eligibility. • Contact selected winners. • Deliver prizes. • Administer the promotion. • Communicate relevant promotional information. Information may be shared with an author, publisher, sponsor, or fulfillment provider when necessary to administer the promotion or deliver a prize. Any additional use of your information for marketing purposes will be handled in accordance with applicable consent and marketing requirements. Specific promotions may have additional rules or privacy disclosures. 10. Data Security We take reasonable measures to protect personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, misuse, and destruction. These measures may include using reputable third-party service providers, limiting access to customer information, and utilizing available security features within our business systems. Payments are processed through Square's payment processing systems. Although we take reasonable precautions, no method of electronic transmission or storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure. In the event of a qualifying data security incident, we will take appropriate steps and provide notifications as required by applicable law. 11. Data Retention We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. For example, we may retain certain information for: • Order fulfillment and customer service. • Tax and accounting records. • Business and transaction documentation. • Fraud prevention and dispute resolution. • Legal and regulatory compliance. When information is no longer needed for legitimate business purposes or legal obligations, we will take reasonable steps to securely delete, destroy, or deidentify it. 12. Your Privacy Rights and Choices Depending on your location and applicable privacy laws, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information. These rights may include: • Requesting information about the personal information we maintain about you. • Requesting access to your personal information. • Requesting correction of inaccurate information. • Requesting deletion of certain personal information. • Withdrawing consent where processing is based on consent. • Opting out of promotional email communications. • Requesting information about certain disclosures of your personal information. Some information may be retained when necessary to complete transactions, comply with legal obligations, maintain required business records, resolve disputes, or protect against fraud. To submit a privacy-related request, please contact us using the contact information in this policy. We may need to verify your identity before processing certain requests. We will respond to applicable requests in accordance with the laws governing your request. 13. International Customers Although our bookstore is based in Kansas, United States, we accept and ship orders internationally. Customer information may be processed and stored in the United States or other locations where our service providers operate. International customers should understand that privacy laws and protections may differ depending on their country or region. We take reasonable steps to handle customer information responsibly and in accordance with applicable legal requirements. Where additional privacy rights or protections apply to an international customer, we will honor those rights as required by applicable law. 14. Children's Privacy Our online bookstore is not directed toward children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information directly from children under 13 without appropriate parental consent. If we become aware that personal information has been collected from a child under 13 without the required consent, we will take appropriate steps to address the information. Parents or legal guardians who believe their child has provided personal information may contact us using the information provided below. 15. Third-Party Websites and Services Our website, promotional materials, and communications may contain links to third-party websites, including author websites, publisher websites, social media platforms, payment providers, and other services. These websites and services operate independently and have their own privacy policies and practices. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or security of third-party websites. We encourage customers to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites they visit. 16. Changes to This Privacy Policy We reserve the right to update or revise this Privacy Policy as our business practices, technology, or applicable legal requirements change. When updates are made, the revised policy will be posted on our website with an updated effective date. We encourage customers to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how their information is handled. 17. Contact Us We believe in transparency and want our customers to feel comfortable shopping with us. If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, how your information is collected or used, or would like to submit a privacy-related request, please contact us. The Indie Author Insider Online Bookstore Kansas, United States Website: www.theindieauthorinsider.com Email: info@theindieauthorinsider.com Thank you for supporting our bookstore and the independent authors and bookish community we proudly serve. Your trust means so much to us.