1. Scope
This policy applies to TheAuthorsEcho.com, quote requests, production orders, customer communications, and delivery of our audiobook-production services. “Personal information” means information that identifies or can reasonably be linked to a person. “Manuscript” includes uploaded stories, books, scripts, notes, pronunciation guides, and related creative files.
2. Information we collect
- Contact and order details: name, pen name, email address, book title, selected package, production notes, approvals, and correspondence.
- Creative materials: manuscripts, pronunciation guides, voice direction, artwork inputs, and other files you choose to provide.
- Transaction records: order amount, currency, payment status, processor identifiers, refunds, and fraud signals. Stripe processes payment-card details; our site is not designed to receive or store full card numbers.
- Technical and security data: IP address, request timestamps, browser information, error logs, and security events generated by our hosting and service providers.
- Consent records: the policy versions, rights confirmation, optional promotional permission, and time of acceptance.
Please do not include Social Security numbers, bank details, health records, account passwords, or other unnecessary sensitive information in a manuscript or production note.
3. Why we use information
We use information to calculate and verify prices; prevent fraud; create and administer orders; communicate with you; produce, revise, and deliver the audiobook; manage optional promotion; maintain accounting and legal records; protect our systems; and comply with law. We use information only where reasonably necessary for those purposes or with your permission.
4. Manuscripts, model use, and publication
Local packages
Local packages are produced primarily with private local/open-source tools. The manuscript may still pass through necessary private hosting, storage, security, and transfer systems so that we can receive and manage the order.
Hosted API packages
If you buy a hosted API package, the portions of the manuscript needed for narration may be transmitted to the named or disclosed voice provider, such as ElevenLabs or a comparable provider selected for the order. We will not switch a local package to hosted voice processing without your approval.
No training and no automatic publication
We do not use a client manuscript to train our own or a third party’s general-purpose model without a separate, explicit written opt-in. We do not publish, feature, or advertise a client work without separate written promotional permission.
5. Service providers and disclosures
We disclose only the information reasonably needed to providers that help operate the service. These may include:
- Cloudflare for website delivery, security, private object storage, and order data;
- Stripe for payment processing, receipts, fraud prevention, and disputes;
- Resend or another disclosed email provider for transactional messages;
- ElevenLabs or another disclosed hosted voice provider only for a hosted API order;
- professional advisers, contractors, or authorities when reasonably necessary for production, security, legal compliance, or protecting rights.
We do not sell personal information or manuscripts. We do not share them for cross-context behavioral advertising.
6. Retention and deletion
- Abandoned uploads: an upload that never becomes a paid or accepted order is scheduled for deletion within 48 hours.
- Production files: source manuscripts and working files are normally deleted within 30 days after final delivery and closure of the included revision window.
- Earlier deletion: after fulfillment, you may request earlier deletion, subject to active revisions, security needs, disputes, backups, and legal obligations.
- Business records: order, payment, tax, consent, fraud, and correspondence records may be retained longer where reasonably required for accounting, enforcement, or law.
Deletion from encrypted backups and provider systems may follow their normal secure expiration cycles. Published promotional copies remain subject to your promotional permission and any unavoidable third-party copies.
7. Security
We use measures designed for a small production business, including private storage, least-privilege access, encrypted network transport, restricted secrets, payment processing through Stripe, access logging, retention limits, and incident response. No online service can guarantee absolute security.
If we discover a breach requiring notice, we will notify affected people and authorities as required by applicable law. You should protect your email account and contact us promptly if an order communication appears suspicious.
8. Your choices and requests
You may ask to access, correct, or delete information associated with your order, withdraw future promotional permission, or ask how a manuscript was processed. Some information may need to be retained for an active contract, payment dispute, tax record, security investigation, or other legal requirement.
This service is intended for adults and is not directed to children under 18. We currently use only technology necessary to operate and secure the site. If optional analytics or advertising cookies are added later, this policy and any required consent controls will be updated first.
9. Contact and policy changes
Email privacy or deletion requests to theauthorsecho@outlook.com. We are based near Rochester in Churchville, New York, United States.
The version accepted with an order applies to that order. We may update this policy as providers or practices change and will post a new effective date. Material changes affecting an active order will be communicated where required.