Privacy Policy

Who we are

ShelfSpark (“ShelfSpark,” “we,” “us”) helps authors, agents and publishers measure reader interest in books before they are published. This policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use it and the choices you have. It applies to shelfspark.com, the campaign landing pages we operate for specific books, and our related services.

If you signed up on a page for a particular book, you are a reader in this policy. If you use ShelfSpark to test a book, you are a customer.

Information we collect

Information you give us.

Readers: your email address and, where asked, your first name, favorite genres or answers to short survey questions on a campaign landing page.
Customers and early-access applicants: your name, email address, role, company and any book details you share with us.
Anyone who contacts us: the contents of your message and your contact details.

Information collected automatically. When you visit our site or a campaign page, we and our partners may collect device and usage data such as IP address, browser type, pages viewed, referring ad and approximate location derived from IP address.

Information from advertising platforms. Most readers reach us through ads on Facebook and Instagram. Meta may tell us which ad you clicked and provide aggregated campaign performance data. We do not receive your Facebook or Instagram password or private profile content.

Cookies and the Meta Pixel

Our pages may use cookies and similar technologies, including the Meta Pixel and Meta Conversions API. These tools let us learn whether an ad led to a sign-up, measure campaign results and show our ads to people likely to be interested. Meta may combine this data with information it holds about you under its own Privacy Policy.

You can control ad personalization through your Facebook ad preferences, block or delete cookies in your browser settings, or opt out of interest-based advertising at aboutads.info. Blocking cookies may affect how some pages work.

How we use information

To send readers updates about the book they signed up for, such as its release, a pre-order link or a short survey.
To measure interest in a book idea and prepare aggregated reports for the customer who commissioned the campaign.
To run, improve and secure our services and our advertising.
To respond to questions and manage early-access requests.
To comply with law and enforce our Terms of Service.

We use automated tools, including AI models, to create ad creative and analyze aggregated campaign results. We do not use these tools to make decisions about individuals that have legal or similarly significant effects.

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it for cross-context behavioral advertising in exchange for money. We share information only in these situations:

With the customer behind a campaign. Customers receive aggregated results. If a sign-up page clearly says your email will be shared with the author or publisher of that book, we share it with them so they can tell you about that book, and they may use it only for that purpose.
With service providers who host our site, process forms, send email or run analytics for us, under contracts that limit their use of the data.
With advertising platforms such as Meta, as described in the cookies section above.
For legal reasons, when required by law or to protect the rights and safety of ShelfSpark, our users or others.
In a business transfer, such as a merger or acquisition, subject to this policy.

How long we keep it

We keep reader sign-ups for as long as the related campaign and book updates are active, and for no more than 24 months after your last interaction with us unless you ask us to delete them sooner. Customer account and billing records are kept for as long as the account is open and afterward as required for tax, accounting or legal purposes. Aggregated or de-identified data that no longer identifies you may be kept longer.

Your choices and rights

Unsubscribe from any email using the link at the bottom of the message.
Access, correct or delete your personal information by emailing privacy@shelfspark.com. We will respond within 30 days and may need to verify your request.
Depending on where you live, including California, the EU and the UK, you may have additional rights such as data portability, objecting to certain processing or lodging a complaint with your local data protection authority. Where EU or UK law applies, we rely on your consent for marketing emails and cookies and on our legitimate interests for running and securing our services.

We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of these rights.

Security and international transfers

We use reasonable technical and organizational safeguards, including encryption in transit and access controls, to protect personal information. No system is perfectly secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

ShelfSpark is based in the United States and our providers may process data in the US and other countries. Where required, we use appropriate safeguards such as standard contractual clauses for transfers.

Children

ShelfSpark is not directed to children under 16 and we do not knowingly collect their personal information. If you believe a child has given us personal information, contact privacy@shelfspark.com and we will delete it.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as our services evolve. When we do, we will change the effective date above, and if the changes are significant we will give notice on this site or by email.

Contact us

Questions or requests about privacy go to privacy@shelfspark.com. For anything else, write to hello@shelfspark.com.