Effective Date: August 3, 2025
At VincentStephen.com (the “Website”), operated by S. Vincent Anthony, Author, we are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our Website, explore our literary works, or sign up for membership. By using the Website, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Website.
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the effective date. You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes.
1. Information We Collect
We collect information from you in the following ways:
a. Personal Information You Provide
When you interact with the Website, such as signing up for membership to support our work, we may collect personal information including:
- Name
- Email address
- Billing information (e.g., credit card details, billing address) for processing payments
- Any other information you voluntarily provide, such as in messages or feedback
Membership levels may require this information to create an account, process subscriptions, and provide access to exclusive content or benefits.
b. Automatically Collected Information
When you visit the Website, we may automatically collect certain information about your device and usage, including:
- IP address
- Browser type and version
- Operating system
- Pages viewed and time spent on the Website
- Referring website or search terms
- Device identifiers
This information is collected using cookies, web beacons, or similar technologies (see Section 4 for details).
c. Information from Third Parties
If you sign up for membership or make payments, we may receive information from third-party payment processors (e.g., Stripe or PayPal) to facilitate transactions.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If we learn that we have collected such information, we will delete it.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- To provide and maintain the Website, including displaying literary works and managing membership accounts
- To process payments and subscriptions for membership levels
- To communicate with you, such as sending updates on new works, newsletters, or responses to inquiries
- To improve the Website, analyze usage trends, and personalize your experience
- To prevent fraud, enforce our terms, and comply with legal obligations
- For marketing purposes, such as promoting new stories or novels (with your consent where required)
3. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information in the following circumstances:
- Service Providers: With third-party vendors who assist us in operating the Website, processing payments, or providing analytics (e.g., payment gateways, hosting services, or email providers). These parties are contractually obligated to protect your information.
- Legal Requirements: If required by law, such as in response to a subpoena, court order, or government request.
- Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of the transaction.
- With Your Consent: For any other purpose with your explicit permission.
4. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
We use cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, analyze traffic, and track usage. Cookies are small text files stored on your device.
- Essential Cookies: Necessary for the Website to function, such as maintaining sessions.
- Analytics Cookies: To understand how visitors interact with the Website (e.g., via Google Analytics).
- Marketing Cookies: To deliver relevant content or ads.
You can manage cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling cookies may limit Website functionality. For more information, visit AllAboutCookies.org.
We may use tools like Google Analytics, which collects anonymized data about your visits. Google’s privacy practices are available at policies.google.com/privacy.
5. Data Security
We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect your information from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
6. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:
- Access: Request a copy of the information we hold about you.
- Correction: Update or correct inaccurate information.
- Deletion: Request deletion of your information (subject to legal obligations).
- Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications or object to certain processing.
- Portability: Request transfer of your data in a structured format.
To exercise these rights, contact us at the details below. We may require verification of your identity. Residents of certain regions (e.g., California under CCPA/CPRA or EU under GDPR) may have additional rights. For CCPA-specific details, California residents can request information about disclosures to third parties for direct marketing (we do not engage in such sharing).
7. International Data Transfers
The Website is operated in the United States. If you are accessing it from outside the U.S., your information may be transferred to and stored in the U.S., where privacy laws may differ. By using the Website, you consent to this transfer.
8. Retention of Information
We retain your personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes outlined in this Policy, or as required by law. For example, membership data may be kept for the duration of your subscription plus a reasonable period for record-keeping.
9. Third-Party Links
The Website may contain links to third-party sites (e.g., payment processors). We are not responsible for their privacy practices. We encourage you to review their policies.
10. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our practices, please contact us at:
- Email: Contact
- Mailing Address: [Insert Address if Available; otherwise, use email for inquiries]
Thank you for trusting VincentStephen.com with your information. We are dedicated to honoring the stories of the past while respecting your privacy in the present.