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Privacy Policy

Introduction

At SharonMarieChester.com (“we,” “us,” or “our”), your privacy is important to us. We recognize that you are trusting us with information that is personal and confidential, and we take that responsibility seriously. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, share, and safeguard your personal information when you visit or interact with our website located at https://www.sharonmariechester.com (the “Site”), including any services, features, content, or functionalities made available through the Site.

This policy also applies to information collected from you offline, such as in-person book events, readings, or trade shows, where we may gather your contact details or mailing preferences for newsletters, book signings, or promotions.

By using our Site, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect personal and non-personal information in a variety of ways, including:

  1. Information You Provide to Us Directly
  • Contact Forms: Name, email address, and message content when you contact us via the website form.
  • Purchases: Name, billing address, shipping address, email address, and PayPal transaction ID when you place an order.
  • Newsletter Signup: Email address when subscribing to our mailing list.
  1. Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our Site, certain technical data is automatically collected through cookies and similar technologies:

  • IP address
  • Browser type and version
  • Operating system
  • Pages visited and time spent
  • Referring website address
  • General geolocation data (e.g., state or city)

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following lawful purposes:

  • To process and fulfill orders placed through the Site
  • To respond to your inquiries and provide customer support
  • To send transactional and administrative communications (e.g., purchase confirmations, updates)
  • To send newsletters or promotional emails (with your consent)
  • To monitor and improve the performance and usability of the Site
  • To comply with applicable legal obligations and enforce our rights

We do not sell or rent your personal information to third parties.

3. Legal Basis for Processing (If Applicable)

Where required under applicable privacy laws (e.g., GDPR if we later expand internationally), our legal bases for processing your personal information may include:

  • Your consent
  • Performance of a contract (e.g., to deliver a book)
  • Compliance with a legal obligation
  • Our legitimate interests, provided they are not overridden by your rights

4. Sharing of Information

We may share your information with third parties under limited and lawful circumstances:

  • Payment Processors: We use PayPal to securely process payments. PayPal receives only the data necessary to verify and complete your transaction.
  • Service Providers: We may engage vendors or contractors for technical and customer support, website hosting, and email services. These providers are contractually bound to use the data only as instructed and to maintain its confidentiality.
  • Legal Obligations: We may disclose your information when required by law, regulation, subpoena, or court order, including to law enforcement agencies or regulators.

We do not permit third parties to use your information for their own marketing or commercial purposes.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our Site uses “cookies”, small data files stored on your device, to enhance your browsing experience and gather usage data. These may include:

  • Essential Cookies: Required for the website to function (e.g., for checkout)
  • Performance Cookies: Help us understand how the site is used (e.g., Google Analytics)
  • Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences (e.g., form autofill)

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may impact your ability to use certain parts of the Site.

6. Email Communications and Marketing

If you sign up for our newsletter or make a purchase, we may send you occasional updates about book releases, author events, or promotions. You may unsubscribe at any time using the link provided in the footer of our emails.

We will not send you unsolicited marketing emails without your prior consent.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary for the purposes stated in this Policy or as required by applicable law. This generally includes:

  • Order records: 7 years for legal and accounting compliance
  • Email subscriptions: until you unsubscribe
  • Contact form data: up to 1 year after the inquiry is resolved

8. Security Measures

We implement appropriate physical, technical, and administrative safeguards to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse. These measures include:

  • SSL encryption on all data transmitted through the Site
  • Secure PayPal transaction processing
  • Access controls and limited staff access to user data

Despite these precautions, no method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Children’s Privacy

This Site is not directed to children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us, and we will delete it promptly.

10. Your Rights and Choices

You may:

  • Request access to or correction of your personal data
  • Request deletion of your information where legally permissible
  • Opt out of email communications
  • Manage cookie preferences via your browser

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at:
sharonmarielcsw@gmail.com

11. External Links

Our Site may contain links to external websites such as Amazon or social media platforms. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those third-party websites.

We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any external sites you visit.

12. State Law and Jurisdiction

This Privacy Policy shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Louisiana, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. By accessing or using the Site, you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Louisiana for any disputes arising under this Policy.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may revise this Privacy Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will post the updated version on the Site and update the “Effective Date” above.

Your continued use of the Site after such updates constitutes your acceptance of the revised policy.

14. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, you may contact us at:

📧 Email: sharonmarielcsw@gmail.com
🌐 Website: https://www.sharonmariechester.com

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