PRIVACY POLICY

1. Overview

This Privacy Policy sets out how Beck Stevens (“I”, “me”, or “my”) collects, uses, stores, and protects any personal information you provide when using www.beckstevens.com (the “Site”).

I am committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. Should I ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified when using this website, you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement.

2. Information Collected

I may collect and process the following personal information when you interact with the Site:

Contact Information: Your name and email address when you voluntarily subscribe to my newsletter, request reader magnet downloads, or fill out a contact form.

Communication History: The content of any messages, enquiries, or feedback you send directly via the contact form or email.

Technical & Usage Data: Information automatically gathered when you navigate the site, including your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URL, pages visited, and timestamps (managed via essential cookies and privacy-respecting analytics).

3. How Your Information Is Used

Your personal data is used solely for legitimate creative and operational purposes, including:

Newsletter & Updates: Sending you author updates, book announcements, cover reveals, release notifications, and exclusive reader content (only if you have explicitly opted in).

Direct Communication: Responding to your enquiries, messages, or support requests submitted through the contact form or via direct email.

Site Optimization: Monitoring site performance, resolving layout or technical issues, and ensuring a smooth user experience across devices.

I do not sell, rent, trade, or lease your personal information to third parties for marketing or advertising purposes under any circumstances.

4. Legal Basis for Processing

Under the UK GDPR, the lawful bases for processing your personal data are:

Consent: When you explicitly opt in to receive my email newsletter or subscriber updates. You have the right to withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the "Unsubscribe" link at the bottom of any email or by contacting me directly.

Legitimate Interests: When it is necessary to respond to your direct enquiries, maintain site security, protect intellectual property, or manage normal operational communications.

5. Third-Party Service Providers

To run an efficient, secure author platform, I rely on trusted third-party service providers who process data on my behalf. These providers are bound by strict confidentiality and data protection standards:

• Service Provider
• Purpose
• Privacy Standard
• Kit (formerly ConvertKit)
• Email newsletter management, subscriber lists, automated delivery of reader materials.
• UK / EU GDPR Compliant (Data Processing Addendum in place).
• Web Hosting Provider
• Uptime, server security, database storage, and SSL encryption.
• Secure cloud hosting adhering to international security standards.

Where data is transferred outside the UK or European Economic Area (EEA), I ensure appropriate safeguards—such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or International Data Transfer Agreements (IDTAs)—are in place.

6. Data Retention

I will only retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected:

• Mailing List Data: Retained until you choose to unsubscribe or request deletion. Once unsubscribed, your details are removed from active mailing lists.
• Contact Form Correspondence: Messages and related email threads are retained for up to 24 months to handle ongoing enquiries, after which they are securely deleted.
• Technical Logs: Server and security logs are automatically deleted or anonymized on a standard rolling schedule (typically within 30 to 90 days).

7. Security

I am committed to ensuring that your information is secure. To prevent unauthorized access, disclosure, or alteration, appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures have been established to safeguard the information collected online, including SSL (HTTPS) encryption across the entire Site.

8. Your Data Protection Rights

Under UK GDPR law, you have specific rights regarding your personal data:

• The right to access: You can request a copy of the personal data held about you.
• The right to rectification: You can request that inaccurate or incomplete information be corrected.
• The right to erasure ("Right to be forgotten"): You can request that your personal data be deleted from my records.
• The right to restrict processing: You can ask to pause or limit how your data is used.
• The right to object: You can object to the processing of your data based on legitimate interests.
• The right to withdraw consent: You can unsubscribe from mailing lists at any time using the link provided in any campaign email.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact me at admin@beckstevens.com. Requests are handled free of charge within 30 days.

9. Cookies

This site uses cookies to ensure basic technical functionality and analyse traffic patterns. For full details on the types of cookies used and how to manage your preferences, please view my dedicated Cookie Policy.

10. Links to Other Websites

This website contains links to external platforms, including online retailers (such as Amazon) and social media channels. Once you leave this Site via these links, I do not have control over that external website. Therefore, I cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information you provide while visiting such sites. You should exercise caution and review the privacy statement applicable to the website in question.

11. How to Lodge a Complaint

If you have concerns about how your data is handled, please reach out directly so I can resolve the issue. If you remain dissatisfied, you have the right to lodge a formal complaint with the UK data protection regulator:

Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF

Tel: 0303 123 1113 | Website: www.ico.org.uk