Effective Date: August 28, 2025 Last Updated: August 28, 2025
Who We Are
This website (autumnembers.com) is owned and operated by Autumn Embers, author of the Haunted Route 66 Mysteries and The Haunted Road Trip Series. You can contact me regarding privacy questions at [email protected].
Information We Collect
Information You Provide Directly
- Contact Forms: When you contact me through forms on this website, I collect your name, email address, and any message content you provide.
- Newsletter Subscriptions: If you subscribe to my mailing list, I collect your email address and any preferences you indicate.
- Comments: When you leave comments on blog posts, I collect your name, email address, website URL, and comment content.
Information Collected Automatically
- Website Analytics: I use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use my website. This collects information such as your IP address, browser type, pages visited, time spent on pages, and general location (city/country level).
- Cookies: My website uses cookies for functionality and analytics. See the “Cookies” section below for details.
- Server Logs: My web hosting provider automatically collects standard server log information including IP addresses, browser information, and page requests.
How We Use Your Information
I use the information I collect to:
- Respond to your inquiries and provide customer service
- Send newsletters and updates about my books (only if you subscribe)
- Improve my website content and user experience
- Prevent spam and maintain website security
- Comply with legal obligations
Cookies
What Cookies We Use
- Functional Cookies: These enable basic website functionality like remembering your comment information and login status.
- Analytics Cookies: Google Analytics cookies help me understand website traffic and user behavior to improve the site.
- Comment Cookies: If you leave a comment, cookies save your name, email, and website for convenience on future comments (lasting one year).
Managing Cookies
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Note that disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality.
Third-Party Services
Google Analytics
This website uses Google Analytics to analyze website traffic. Google Analytics collects information anonymously and reports website trends without identifying individual visitors. You can opt out of Google Analytics by installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on.
Email Service Provider
If you subscribe to my newsletter, your email address is stored with Mailerlite. I do not share your email address with other parties for marketing purposes.
Social Media
This website may include social media sharing buttons and embedded content from platforms like Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. These services may collect information about your visit according to their own privacy policies.
Web Hosting
Blue Host hosts this website. They may collect server logs and technical information as part of their hosting services.
Data Sharing
I do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your personal information to third parties except:
- To service providers who help operate my website (hosting, email services, analytics)
- When required by law or to protect legal rights
- With your explicit consent
All third-party service providers are required to maintain the confidentiality of your information.
Data Retention
- Comments: Comment data is retained indefinitely to allow for automatic approval of follow-up comments and to maintain conversation context.
- Email Subscribers: Email addresses are retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion.
- Contact Form Data: Messages sent through contact forms are retained for customer service purposes.
- Analytics Data: Google Analytics data is retained according to Google’s data retention policies.
Your Rights
You have the right to:
- Access: Request a copy of the personal data I hold about you
- Correction: Request correction of inaccurate personal data
- Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data (subject to legal retention requirements)
- Portability: Request your data in a portable format
- Objection: Object to processing of your personal data for marketing purposes
- Unsubscribe: Opt out of email communications at any time
To exercise these rights, contact me at [your email address].
Data Security
I implement appropriate security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no internet transmission is 100% secure, and I cannot guarantee absolute security.
Children’s Privacy
This website is not intended for children under 13. I do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided personal information, please contact me so I can delete it.
International Users
This website is operated from the United States. If you are visiting from outside the US, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States where data protection laws may differ from those in your country.
Changes to This Policy
I may update this privacy policy from time to time. I will post any changes on this page with an updated “Last Updated” date. For significant changes, I may also notify subscribers via email.
Contact Information
If you have questions about this privacy policy or how I handle your personal data, please contact me at:
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://autumnembers.com