Last updated 12/6/19
During the Civil War, Army Commanders used their cavalry to protect the infantry as the foot soldiers marched toward a destination. The cavalry also served as the eyes and ears of the army commander, collecting information. Instead of using horsemen, this website uses digital tools to protect your privacy. I use SSL (encryption) to protect the integrity of this website, and in turn your data. This means that everything that is sent to and from my server is encrypted. But just like the cavalry, websites do collect some information.
Because I value your privacy, I want you to know what information is collected and stored and what you can do about it if you don’t like it. I also use CleanTalk to provide anti-spam services. CleanTalk is protecting the website from enemy cavalry who are people that would love to conduct a raid on my website and fill it with spam comments.
Comments
To allow for discussion, you have the opportunity to post comments on my website. I know many of you have a keen interest in the Civil War and especially the Battle of Gettysburg. I’m most interested in your comments and what things the novel discussed and didn’t discuss (or bear light on the Union victory). The information collected when you comment includes your name, email address, IP address, and your comments. If you ever wish to have your comments removed, send me a quick note through the contact form and I’ll remove them.
Obviously, if you leave me a comment that information is collected so I can read it and respond back to you.
Your email address will be checked by a third party (CleanTalk) just to make sure you are a real person and not a spammer. Although spammers are often real people, I don’t want to talk to them. If you’re a spammer, they’ll toss you out for me. CleanTalk will only store discarded data for a few days. That way if I find out they’ve accidentally thrown out someone who isn’t a spammer, I can tell them to let you back in.
Website Activity Tracking
My hosting company provides me with basic data on those who access my site. The stored data does not tell me about any individual and is generally generalized. It provides me with information related to the country of origin of site visitors, what browser they are using, and how long they stayed on the site.
In addition, any time you use the internet, search engines such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo, track website visitors. The information that these search engines store is not traceable to one individual and so is very generic in nature. I do not store this information. But I do occasionally look at it so that I can tell what people are searching for when they come to my site. This helps me provide more relevant information regarding the historical novel Without Warning: The Saga of Gettysburg, A Reluctant Hero, and the Men He Inspired. It also provides me information that may be useful in Without Warning’s sequel, which is called Fractured Pursuit: 4-13 July 1863. I’m currently writing Fractured Pursuit.
Use of Cookies
I use Google Analytics on my site to see where visitors are coming from and to observe click-through rates. This requires the use of cookies. I use cookies on this site to ensure the integrity of the registration process and to personalize the site. A cookie is a small text file that is placed on your hard disk by a web page server. Cookies cannot be used to run programs or deliver viruses to your computer.
Action tags may be used to assist in delivering a cookie. This technology is a tool used to compile aggregated statistics about web site usage, such as how many visitors clicked on key elements (such as links or graphics) on a web page. I may share aggregated site statistics with partner companies who have provided customization software for us on my site. No private or personal information is transferred in this way.
I want to make it very clear, however, that you have the ability to accept or declines cookies. If you decide to decline cookies, you may not be able to fully experience the interactive features of my website.
Changes to this Statement
I may occasionally update this privacy statement. When I do, I will revise the “last updated” date at the top of the privacy statement.
A Note to International Users
This site is hosted in the United States. If you are accessing the site from outside the United States, by providing your information to the site, you are consenting to the transfer of your information to the United States for processing and maintenance in accordance with this Privacy Notice. You are also consenting to the application of United States law in all matters concerning the site.
Want to Be Forgotten?
Send me a quick note through my contact page and I’ll completely remove your data from my website.