Privacy Policy
Effective Date: 26 August 2026
At MyNovel, we respect your privacy and take the protection of your personal information seriously. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect information when you use the MyNovel website, request publishing services, submit manuscripts, use our Author Tools or make payments through our website.
1. Information We Collect
Depending on how you use MyNovel, we may collect and process information such as:
- Your name, surname, email address and contact number
- Information submitted through contact and quotation forms
- Manuscript files and other material submitted for quotation, editing, proofreading or assessment
- Information submitted when using MyNovel Author Tools
- Book information such as title, genre, description, ISBN and publishing details
- Your marketing and mailing-list preferences
- Transaction information such as payment status, transaction amount, date and payment reference
- Technical information such as IP address, browser type, device information and security logs where necessary
- Browsing information collected through cookies and analytics tools
2. How We Use Your Information
We may use your information to:
- Respond to enquiries and quotation requests
- Assess manuscripts submitted for publishing services
- Provide editing, proofreading, formatting, cover design and other publishing services
- Provide MyNovel Author Tools and generated results
- Process and confirm purchases
- Provide access to paid digital services
- Provide customer support
- Maintain transaction, accounting and administrative records
- Prevent fraud, misuse or unauthorised use of the website and paid tools
- Improve our website, services and user experience
- Send important service-related communications
- Send marketing communications where you have consented or where otherwise permitted by applicable law
MyNovel does not sell your personal information to advertisers or other third parties.
3. Payment Processing
Online payments for MyNovel products and services may be processed through Payfast, an independent payment service provider.
When you make a payment, information required to process the transaction may be provided to Payfast. This may include information such as your name, email address, transaction amount, payment reference and other information necessary to complete or verify the payment.
MyNovel does not directly collect or store your complete debit-card or credit-card details. Payment-card information is processed by the relevant payment service provider according to its own privacy, security and regulatory requirements.
4. Manuscripts and Author Uploads
Manuscripts and other original material submitted to MyNovel remain the property of the author or lawful rights holder.
MyNovel does not acquire copyright or ownership of your manuscript merely because it is uploaded, assessed or processed through our website.
Submitted material may be processed where necessary to provide the service you requested, including:
- Editing
- Proofreading
- Formatting
- Manuscript assessment
- Book blurb generation
- Book marketing material
- ISBN and barcode-related services
- Other MyNovel Author Tools
5. Automated and AI-Assisted Processing
Certain MyNovel Author Tools use automated or artificial-intelligence-assisted technology to analyse manuscripts or generate material such as book blurbs, marketing copy, titles, promotional material and manuscript assessments.
Information submitted to these tools may be securely transmitted to third-party technology service providers where this is necessary to generate the requested result.
Such information is processed only for purposes connected with providing the requested service and operating the relevant Author Tool.
Automated and AI-assisted outputs should always be reviewed by the author before publication or commercial use.
6. Marketing Communications
MyNovel does not automatically subscribe you to marketing communications merely because you request a quotation, purchase a service or use an Author Tool.
Where appropriate, you may be offered the opportunity to opt in to receive occasional MyNovel communications such as:
- Publishing tips
- Author resources
- Information about new Author Tools
- Service updates
- Special offers
You may withdraw your consent or unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time.
7. Cookies and Website Data
The MyNovel website may use cookies and similar technologies to support website functionality, security, analytics and user experience.
Cookies may also be used by third-party services incorporated into the website, such as security tools, analytics services, CAPTCHA services and payment providers.
You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect some website functions.
8. Data Storage and Retention
Personal information is retained only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected or where retention is required for legal, accounting, security or administrative purposes.
Manuscripts and generated results may be retained for a limited period where necessary to:
- Complete the requested service
- Resolve customer-support enquiries
- Investigate technical problems
- Prevent abuse or fraud
- Meet applicable legal or record-keeping obligations
Information that is no longer reasonably required will be deleted, anonymised or securely disposed of where appropriate.
9. Data Security
MyNovel takes reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information from unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, loss or destruction.
However, no website, internet transmission or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
10. Sharing Information with Service Providers
MyNovel may use trusted third-party service providers where necessary to operate the website or provide requested services. These may include:
- Website hosting providers
- Payment processors
- Email and communication services
- Security and CAPTCHA providers
- Analytics providers
- Automated and artificial-intelligence technology providers
Information is shared only where reasonably necessary for the relevant service, or where disclosure is required by law.
11. Your Rights
In accordance with the South African Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and other applicable privacy laws, you may have the right to:
- Request access to personal information we hold about you
- Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
- Request deletion of information where legally permissible
- Object to certain processing of your personal information
- Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent
- Request that marketing communications stop
Certain information may need to be retained where required by law or for legitimate administrative, accounting, security or dispute-resolution purposes.
12. Third-Party Links
The MyNovel website may contain links to external websites or services.
MyNovel is not responsible for the privacy practices, security or content of third-party websites. You should review the privacy policies of those services before providing personal information to them.
13. Children's Information
MyNovel's publishing services and Author Tools are intended primarily for adults. We do not knowingly seek to collect personal information from children without appropriate consent where such consent is required by law.
14. Changes to This Privacy Policy
MyNovel may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our services, website functionality, technology or legal obligations.
The effective date shown at the top of this page indicates when the policy was last substantially updated.
15. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your privacy rights or have a concern about how your personal information is handled, please contact:
MyNovel
Contact: Mike Grobler
South Africa
Tel: +27 73 575 9644