Privacy Policy | Carolyn S. Williford

Thank you so much for visiting CarolynSWilliford.com. First of all, I will never sell your information, and I make every attempt to make sure that your information is secure as you visit and interact with my site and with me through newsletters, clubs, contests, books, and social media. However, please read my privacy policy carefully so that you will understand how I collect, use, and protect your information in accordance with my website policy.

Who I am:

My website address is: http://carolynswilliford.com.  The use of CarolynSWilliford.com, Carolyn Williford, I, we, us, me, Carolyn in this document refers to author Carolyn S. Williford.

What personal data I collect and why I collect it:

Comments

When visitors leave comments on this website I collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection.

An anonymized string created from your email address (also called a hash) may be provided to the Gravatar service to see if you are using it. The Gravatar service privacy policy is available here: https://automattic.com/privacy/. After approval of your comment, your profile picture is visible to the public in the context of your comment.

Please be careful about what you disclose and do not post any personal information in the comments that you expect to keep private.

Media

If you upload images to this website, you should avoid uploading images with embedded location data (EXIF GPS) included. Visitors to the website can download and extract any location data from images on the website.

Cookies

If you leave a comment on my website you may opt-in to saving your name, email address and website in cookies. These are for your convenience so that you do not have to fill in your details again when you leave another comment. These cookies will last for one year.

If you have an account and you log in to this site, we will set a temporary cookie to determine if your browser accepts cookies. This cookie contains no personal data and is discarded when you close your browser.

When you log in, we will also set up several cookies to save your login information and your screen display choices. Login cookies last for two days, and screen options cookies last for a year. If you select “Remember Me”, your login will persist for two weeks. If you log out of your account, the login cookies will be removed.

If you edit or publish an article, an additional cookie will be saved in your browser. This cookie includes no personal data and simply indicates the post ID of the article you just edited. It expires after 1 day.

Embedded content from other websites

Articles on my website may include embedded content (e.g. videos, images, articles, etc.). Embedded content from other websites behaves in the exact same way as if the visitor has visited the other website.

These websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content, including tracing your interaction with the embedded content if you have an account and are logged in to that website.

How long I retain your data:

If you leave a comment, the comment and its metadata are retained indefinitely. This is so I can recognize and approve any follow-up comments automatically instead of holding them in a moderation queue.

For users that register on our website (if any), we also store the personal information they provide in their user profile. All users can see, edit, or delete their personal information at any time (except they cannot change their username). Website administrators can also see and edit that information.

What rights do you have over your data:

If you have an account on this site, or have left comments, you can request to receive an exported file of the personal data I hold about you, including any data you have provided to this website. You can also request that I erase any personal data I hold about you. This does not include any data I am obliged to keep for administrative, legal, or security purposes.

Who I share your data with:

Except as disclosed in this Privacy Policy, I do not use or disclose your personal information. Although, as disclosed, I may provide your personal information to third party service providers, in no event will I sell or rent your personal information as part of a customer list or similar transaction without your express permission.

Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service, but again, your data will not be sold.

Third Party Service Providers

I have third party service providers that perform functions on my behalf, such as hosting, billing, marketing, analytics, customer service, fraud protection, etc. These entities have access to your personal information only as needed to perform their functions and they are obligated to maintain the confidentiality and security of that personal information. They are obligated not to use, sell, distribute or alter this information in any way other than to provide the requested services to the Sites.

Third Parties With Whom We Do Business

I may share your personal information with certain third parties with whom we do business, such as other authors or promotional co-sponsors, so that they can provide you with special offers, promotional materials, and similar materials that may be of interest to you. Although my treatment of your personal information is governed by this Privacy Policy, the third party’s treatment of your personal information will be governed by its privacy policy. You may withdraw your consent to the sharing of your personal information with such third parties at any time by sending me an email.

Social Media

On CarolynSWilliford.com you have the ability to register, log into, “like” or interact with third party social media services, including, but not limited to, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, and other social media services. These features may enable integration and/or access to your social media accounts. I do not control these social media services or your profiles on these services, and I do not establish privacy settings or rules for how your personal information on these services will be used. If you choose to log on to or submit information through any of these social media services, your personal information will be subject to the applicable social media service’s terms and conditions and your current privacy settings on such social media service. By accessing any social media service, you will be assuming the risk that the personal information you provide on that service may be viewed and/or used by third parties for any purpose. You agree that I am not responsible for any acts or omissions by these social media service providers.

In addition, by choosing to log in to my website using your credentials from a social media service, you are asking that service to send me certain information from your account with the service, and you authorize us to collect, store and use such information in accordance with this Privacy Policy.

What personal information do I collect from the people that visit my blog, website or app:

I collect two basic types of information from you in conjunction with your use of the: (1) personal information, which is any information that individually identifies you (e.g., your name, email address, telephone number, postal address, credit card information) and (2) non-personal information, which is information that does not personally identify you but may include information about your interests, demographics (e.g., age, gender, 5-digit zip code). I collect this information in the following ways:

Information You Provide Directly To Me:

I may ask you to provide your personal information, demographic information or information about your preferences or interests when you:

Sign up to receive email newsletters from me
Make a purchase on the website
Enter a contest or sweepstakes
Participate in surveys or special promotions
Participate on social media accounts with me
Participate in communities or forums on the website
Submit user generated content on any part of the website
Knowingly volunteer information on any other part of the website
In order to communicate with you about changes to our policies
In order to send you newsletters, offers and promotions for our products and services, third party products and services, or special events by email or another medium

Information Collected Using Technology:

In addition to any information you provide directly to me, my third party service providers may use a variety of technologies that automatically collect certain non-personal information when you interact with the Sites or emails sent to you, including the following:

Device Information

I may collect certain information about your computer or other device that you use to access the Sites, including IP address, geolocation information, unique device identifiers, browser type, browser language, and other transactional information.

Cookies

CarolynSWilliford.com uses cookies to understand and remember your preferences for future visits. This website also compiles data about site traffic and site interactions to be able to offer better site experiences and tools in the future. Trusted third-party services may track this information on my behalf.

If users disable cookies in their browser then some of the features that make your site experience more efficient may not work properly.

Third Party Disclosure

Occasionally, I may include or offer third party products or services on our website. These third party sites have separate and independent privacy policies. I therefore have no responsibility or liability for the content and activities of these linked sites. Nonetheless, I seek to protect the integrity of this website and welcome any feedback about these sites.

CarolynSWilliford.com does not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your information unless we provide users with advance notice. This does not include website hosting partners and other parties who assist us in operating our website, conducting our business, or serving our users, so long as those parties agree to keep this information confidential. I may also release information when it’s release is appropriate to comply with the law, enforce our site policies, or protect ours or others’ rights, property or safety.

However, non-personally identifiable visitor information may be provided to other parties for marketing, advertising, or other uses.

California Online Privacy Protection Act:

Because I value your privacy I have taken the necessary precautions to be in compliance with the California Online Privacy Protection Act. I therefore will not distribute your personal information to outside parties without your consent.

Some browsers offer a “Do Not Track” feature that lets you tell websites that you do not want to have your online activities tracked. This website does not respond to these “Do Not Track” signals. However, we do not track your personal information about your online activities over time and across third-party websites.

According to CalOPPA, we agree to the following:

Users can visit our site anonymously.
Once this privacy policy is created, we will add a link to it on our home page or as a minimum, on the first significant page after entering our website.
 Our Privacy Policy link includes the word ‘Privacy’ and can easily be found on the page specified above.
You will be notified of any Privacy Policy changes on our Privacy Policy Page . You can change your personal information by emailing me or by logging in to your account if you have an account with CarolynSWilliford.com.

California Civil Code Section 1798.83 permits customers of Carolyn S. Williford who are California residents to request certain information regarding its disclosure of their personal information to third parties for their direct marketing purposes. To make such a request, please contact me here.

Children’s Privacy Policy:

Carolyn Williford respects the privacy of children and complies with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). This Children’s Privacy Policy describes our practices with respect to the collection of personal information from children under the age of 13. This website does not knowingly collect, use, or disclose personal information from children under the age of 13 without prior parental consent, except as permitted by COPPA. We do not require children to share any personal information in order to participate on this Site. On occasion, however, we may collect personal information, such as an email address from a child as part of an activity, in accordance with COPPA.

We may also collect anonymous information automatically from your child’s computer or device, such as the frequency with which the child visits our Site and the pages visited, to support the internal operations of the Site. We collect this information so we can understand and monitor usage of the Site, customize content on the Site and improve the performance of the Site. This information is collected using technologies such as cookies, flash cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies. This information is not used to behaviorally target children and we do not permit behavioral targeting on any of our Sites that are directed to children.

Under COPPA, you have the right to review and have any of your child’s information deleted from my records. You also have the right to tell me to stop collecting or using your child’s personal information. If you have questions concerning our information practices with respect to children, or if you would like to review, have deleted, or stop the further collection of your child’s personal information in connection with the transaction for which it was originally collected, you may email me at the contact information at the bottom of this policy. For tips on protecting your child’s privacy online, please see the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s brochure on this topic: www.onguardonline.gov.

Security of Your Personal Information:

CarolynSWilliford.com takes reasonable steps to help protect and secure your personal information. However, please remember that no data storage or data transmission over the Internet, or by other means, can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. Thus, I cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to me. Therefore, you understand, acknowledge and agree that you transmit your personal information to CarolynSWilliford.com at your own risk.

Third Party Content and Links to Third Party Websites:

CarolynSWilliford.com may contain content hosted or served by third parties or link to websites operated by affiliates of Carolyn Williford or third parties. Please be advised that the practices described in this Privacy Policy for Carolyn Williford do not apply to information gathered by these third parties. I am not responsible for the actions and privacy policies employed by any third party, and our hosting of third-party content or linking to third party websites does not constitute an endorsement of the content or business practices of those third parties.

Governing Law:

CarolynSWilliford.com is published in the United States. We attempt to protect the personal information of all users of our Sites and we attempt to comply with local data protection and consumer rights laws to the extent they may apply, but we are located and targeted to United States citizens and our policies are directed at compliance with those laws. If you are uncertain whether this Privacy Policy conflicts with the applicable local privacy laws where you are located, you should not submit your personal information to CarolynSWilliford.com.

Notice to Non-US Users:

If you are located outside the United States of America, you should be aware that your information will be transferred to the United States of America, the laws of which may be deemed by your country to have inadequate data protection. If you are located in a country outside the United States of America and voluntarily submit personally identifiable information to us on the Sites, you thereby consent to the general use of such information as provided in this Privacy Policy and to the transfer of that information to, and/or storage of that information in, the United States of America.

Changes to This Privacy Policy:

As CarolynSWilliford.com continues to grow, I may add new services and features to them. In the event that these additions affect our Privacy Policy, or if other changes in our privacy practices or applicable laws necessitate changes to the Privacy Policy, this document will be updated accordingly. If I make a material change in the way that I use your personal information, I will provide notice of the change here on this page. I will not, however, change my policy and practices to make them less protective of personal information I have previously collected from you without your express consent.

How To Opt-Out or Correct Your Information:

You may always opt-out of receiving future commercial emails and newsletters from Carolyn S. Williford. I provide you with the opportunity to opt-out of receiving such communications from me by clicking on the “unsubscribe” link within the email you receive. You may also opt out of receiving further communications from me or correct your information by sending us a message here (add link to your contact page).

Your request not to receive unsolicited commercial emails from me will not apply to messages that you request or that are not commercial in nature. For example, I may contact you concerning any purchases you have made with us, even if you opt out of receiving unsolicited commercial messages.

How To Contact Carolyn Williford:

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, you may contact me here.