USA Today Bestselling Author Meara Platt

Privacy Policy

This privacy policy has been compiled to better serve those who are concerned with how their 'Personally Identifiable Information' (PII) is being used online. PII, as described in US privacy law and information security, is information that can be used on its own or with other information to identify, contact, or locate a single person, or to identify an individual in context.

Please read my privacy policy carefully to get a clear understanding of how I collect, use, protect or otherwise handle your Personally Identifiable Information in accordance with my website.

What personal information do I collect from the people that visit our blog, website or app?
When viewing my website, as appropriate, you may be asked to enter your name, email address, mailing address, or other details.

When do I collect information?
I collect information from you when you subscribe to my newsletter, fill out a form, and/or enter information on our site.

How do I use your information?
I may use the information we collect from you in the following ways:

To personalize your experience and to allow us to deliver the type of content and product offerings in which you are most interested.
To administer a contest, promotion, survey or other site feature.
To target advertising based on your preferences.
To send periodic emails.

How do I protect your information?
My website is scanned on a regular basis for security holes and known vulnerabilities in order to make your visit to our site as safe as possible. My web hostess uses regular Malware Scanning. I do not share your data, and will never spam you.

Your personal information is contained behind secured networks and is only accessible by a limited number of persons who have special access rights to such systems, and are required to keep the information confidential. In addition, all sensitive/credit information you supply is encrypted via Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology.

I implement a variety of security measures when a user places an order enters, submits, or accesses their information to maintain the safety of your personal information.

Do I use 'cookies'?
Yes. Cookies are small files that a site or its service provider transfers to your computer's hard drive through your Web browser (if you allow) that enables the site's or service provider's systems to recognize your browser and capture and remember certain information. For instance, they are also used to help us understand your preferences based on previous or current site activity, which enables me to provide you with improved services. I also use cookies to help compile aggregate data about site traffic and site interaction so that I can offer better site experiences and tools in the future.

If users disable cookies in their browser:
If you turn cookies off, some of the features that make your site experience more efficient may not function properly.

Third-party disclosure I do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer to outside parties your Personally Identifiable 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. We may also release information when its release is appropriate to comply with the law, enforce my 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.

Third-party links
Occasionally, at my discretion, 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 my site and welcome any feedback about these sites.

Google
Google's advertising requirements can be summed up by Google's Advertising Principles. They are put in place to provide a positive experience for users. https://support.google.com/adwordspolicy/answer/1316548?hl=en

Though I do not use it currently, I may at some point use use Google AdSense Advertising on my website.

Google, as a third-party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on my site. Google's use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads to our users based on previous visits to my site and other sites on the Internet. Users may opt-out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google Ad and Content Network privacy policy.

I may have implemented the following:

Google Display Network Impression Reporting
Demographics and Interests Reporting

I, along with third-party vendors such as Google use first-party cookies (such as the Google Analytics cookies) and third-party cookies (such as the DoubleClick cookie) or other third-party identifiers together to compile data regarding user interactions with ad impressions and other ad service functions as they relate to my website.

Opting out: Users can set preferences for how Google advertises to you using the Google Ad Settings page. Alternatively, you can opt out by visiting the Network Advertising Initiative Opt Out page or by using the Google Analytics Opt Out Browser add on.

California Online Privacy Protection Act
CalOPPA is the first state law in the nation to require commercial websites and online services to post a privacy policy. The law's reach stretches well beyond California to require any person or company in the United States (and conceivably the world) that operates websites collecting Personally Identifiable Information from California consumers to post a conspicuous privacy policy on its website stating exactly the information being collected and those individuals or companies with whom it is being shared. — See more at: http://consumercal.org/california-online-privacy-protection-act-caloppa/#sthash.0FdRbT51.dpuf

According to CalOPPA, we agree to the following:
Users can visit my site anonymously.

Once this privacy policy is created, I will add a link to it on my home page or as a minimum, on the first significant page after entering my 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

Can change your personal information:

By emailing me

How does my site handle Do Not Track signals?

We honor Do Not Track signals and Do Not Track, plant cookies, or use advertising when a Do Not Track (DNT) browser mechanism is in place.

Does our site allow third-party behavioral tracking?
It's also important to note that we allow third-party behavioral tracking.

COPPA (Children Online Privacy Protection Act)

When it comes to the collection of personal information from children under the age of 13 years old, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) puts parents in control. The Federal Trade Commission, United States' consumer protection agency, enforces the COPPA Rule, which spells out what operators of websites and online services must do to protect children's privacy and safety online.

I do not specifically market to children under the age of 13 years old.

Fair Information Practices
The Fair Information Practices Principles form the backbone of privacy law in the United States and the concepts they include have played a significant role in the development of data protection laws around the globe. Understanding the Fair Information Practice Principles and how they should be implemented is critical to comply with the various privacy laws that protect personal information.

In order to be in line with Fair Information Practices we will take the following responsive action, should a data breach occur:

We will notify you via email

Within 1 business day

We also agree to the Individual Redress Principle which requires that individuals have the right to legally pursue enforceable rights against data collectors and processors who fail to adhere to the law. This principle requires not only those individuals have enforceable rights against data users, but also that individuals have recourse to courts or government agencies to investigate and/or prosecute non-compliance by data processors.

CAN SPAM Act
The CAN-SPAM Act is a law that sets the rules for commercial email, establishes requirements for commercial messages, gives recipients the right to have emails stopped from being sent to them, and spells out tough penalties for violations.

I collect your email address only when voluntarily given in order to:

Send information, respond to inquiries, and/or other requests or questions
Process orders and to send information and updates pertaining to orders
Send you additional information related to your product and/or service
Market to our mailing list or continue to send emails to our clients

To be in accordance with CANSPAM, we agree to the following:

Not use false or misleading subjects or email addresses.
Identify the message as an advertisement in some reasonable way.
Include the physical address of our business or site headquarters.
Monitor third-party email marketing services for compliance, if one is used.
Honor opt-out/unsubscribe requests quickly.
Allow users to unsubscribe by using the link at the bottom of each email.

If at any time you would like to unsubscribe from receiving future emails, you can email us at: [email protected]

Follow the instructions at the bottom of each email and I will promptly remove you from ALL correspondence.

Amazon Affiliate Links
My website, newsletter, blog, or other channels may use Amazon affiliate links. Amazon affiliate links have a personal tag at the end of an Amazon link that allows a percentage of a sale to go to me. If you click on an Amazon affiliate link, you will see my unique tag at the end of the link (meara-20). This means whatever you buy from Amazon while the browser is open that one unique time, I will receive a small percentage from Amazon off the sale of whatever you buy. Once you close the browser, and open the browser again, it will refresh and my unique tag will not be associated with your purchases. This does not cost you anything, but will allow Amazon to pay me themselves. If you do not wish to engage through an Amazon affiliate link, you can simply go to Amazon without clicking on an affiliate link, then search for the product you would like to buy. This does not affect any other retailer outside of Amazon. Contact me with any questions.

Contacting Me
If there are any questions regarding this privacy policy, you may contact me using the information below.

Meara Platt
[email protected]

a Ryan who have been with her from her very first baby steps as a writer.