Privacy Policy

At https://queryguild.com, we recognize that the trust of authors, publishers, and literary professionals is the foundation of our platform. This Privacy Policy outlines the methodology we employ to gather, utilize, and safeguard the personal information shared with us. By accessing our services, you acknowledge that your data will be handled in accordance with the principles detailed herein.

Our primary objective is to facilitate connections within the European literary landscape while maintaining a rigorous standard of confidentiality. We ensure that your data is processed lawfully, transparently, and solely for the purposes necessary to fulfill the functions of our site.

Information We Collect

The data we collect is categorized into two primary streams: information provided voluntarily by the user and data gathered automatically through technical means.

1. User-Provided Data: This includes details submitted via contact forms, account registration, or manuscript submission portals. Such data may include your name, email address, professional biography, and the literary works you wish to share.
2. Automatically Collected Data: When you navigate through https://queryguild.com, our systems may record technical metadata. This includes your IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, and the specific pages you visit.
3. Communication Data: If you contact the Site administrator directly via email, the contents of those messages and any attachments provided are stored for the duration of the correspondence.

Purpose of Data Processing

We process information to ensure the seamless operation of our literary network. Specifically, we utilize your data for the following objectives:

To manage user accounts and verify the identity of literary agents and authors seeking representation. This ensures the integrity of the community and prevents fraudulent activity.

To facilitate the transmission of queries and manuscripts between authors and agents. Without the processing of contact details, the primary function of our site would be unattainable.

To analyze site traffic and user behavior. This allows our team to refine the user interface, optimize the search experience for agents, and improve the overall utility of the platform.

To send essential system updates, security alerts, or requested newsletters regarding the state of the European publishing market, provided you have opted into such communications.

Data Storage and Security

The Site operator employs a variety of technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, or destruction. We utilize encryption protocols and secure hosting environments to mitigate the risk of data breaches.

While we strive for absolute security, no digital transmission is entirely infallible. We commit to notifying affected users in a timely manner should a significant security incident occur that could impact their personal data.

Your data is retained only for as long as is necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, or to comply with legitimate administrative requirements. Once the data is no longer required, it is either deleted or anonymized.

Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third-party marketing firms. However, data may be shared under the following specific circumstances:

1. Intentional Disclosure: When an author submits a query to a specific agent via https://queryguild.com, the agent receives the necessary contact and manuscript details to evaluate the work.
2. Service Providers: We may engage trusted third-party vendors to assist in site hosting, email delivery, or analytics. These partners are contractually obligated to keep your information confidential and use it only for the tasks we assign them.
3. Legal Obligations: We may disclose information if required to do so by a legal mandate or to protect the rights, property, or safety of the Site operator, its users, or the general public.

Your Rights and Controls

We believe in user autonomy regarding personal data. Regardless of your location, we provide the following controls to all users of our platform:

Right of Access: You may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you to verify its accuracy.

Right to Rectification: If you discover that any information we hold is incorrect or outdated, you may request an immediate correction.

Right to Erasure: You may request that we delete your account and all associated personal data, provided it does not conflict with our need to maintain records for legal or security reasons.

Right to Withdraw Consent: Where you have given consent for a specific activity (such as a newsletter), you may withdraw that consent at any time via the provided unsubscribe links or by contacting us.

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

To enhance your experience on https://queryguild.com, we use cookies—small text files stored on your device. These are used to remember your login session, save your preferences, and understand how you interact with our content.

You have the option to disable cookies through your browser settings; however, please be aware that doing so may limit your ability to use certain features of the site, such as maintaining a persistent login session.

Updates to This Policy

The Site administrator reserves the right to modify this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our practices or updates to general data protection principles. When significant changes are made, we will notify users via a prominent notice on the homepage or through a direct email communication.

We encourage you to review this page periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information and the ways in which we are utilizing data to support the literary community.