Effective June 4, 2026 · Last updated June 4, 2026
1. Introduction
This Privacy Notice explains how Ennis M. Salam ("I," "me," or "my") may collect, use, store, and share information when you visit ennismsalam.com, read the writing linked from this site, contact me by email, inquire about commissioned work, or otherwise interact with this website and its related public pages.
The site is primarily a static personal website for writing, books, public work, and commissioned poems. It does not create user accounts, host an on-site payment checkout, or run an on-site contact form. Some activity connected to the site, including newsletter reading, book purchases, social platforms, payment, shipping, and email delivery, may be handled by third-party services under their own privacy practices.
2. Summary of key points
- I collect the information you choose to send, such as emails, commission inquiries, project details, permissions requests, and related correspondence.
- The hosting infrastructure for this site may collect standard technical logs, such as IP address, browser type, device information, referring page, requested URL, and timestamps.
- I use information to respond, maintain the site, discuss or perform commissioned work, protect the site, comply with law, and keep appropriate records.
- I do not sell personal information and do not share email correspondence for third-party marketing.
- This site links to services such as Substack, book retailers, Google Fonts, Instagram, LinkedIn, ShieldStone Labs, DumpsterSuite, and other external sites. Those services control their own collection and use of information.
- You may contact me at salam@ennismsalam.com to request access, correction, deletion, or other privacy assistance, subject to applicable law and legitimate recordkeeping needs.
3. Information you provide
You may voluntarily provide personal information when you email me, ask about commissions, request permission to use writing, discuss events or collaborations, or communicate about books, poems, public appearances, or related work. This may include your name, email address, organization, mailing address, phone number, billing details, project details, event details, personal stories you choose to share for a commission, files or reference material you attach, and the content of your communications.
Please do not send sensitive personal information unless it is necessary for the specific conversation or commission you are requesting. If you choose to include sensitive personal details in a commission brief or email, I will use them only for the purpose for which you provided them, subject to this Privacy Notice and any written agreement between us.
4. Information collected automatically
Like most websites, this site may generate standard technical information through web hosting, security, delivery, or server-log systems. That information may include your IP address, browser and device type, operating system, language settings, referring URLs, pages viewed, dates and times of visits, and similar diagnostic information.
I use this information, when available, to keep the site functioning, troubleshoot technical issues, understand general traffic patterns, prevent abuse, and protect the site and its visitors. I do not use the site to create reader accounts or to combine server logs with a marketing profile.
5. Third-party services and external links
The site links to third-party websites and services, including Substack, Instagram, LinkedIn, book retailers, ShieldStone Labs, DumpsterSuite, collaborators, venues, nonprofits, and other public references. If you follow those links, interact with their pages, subscribe, purchase a book, make a payment, or contact me through another service, that third party may collect and process information under its own terms and privacy policy.
The site also loads web fonts from Google Fonts. Your browser may contact Google or related content-delivery infrastructure to request those font files. I do not control how Google or other third parties process information collected through their own services.
6. Substack, retailers, and payments
Writing subscriptions and reader accounts are handled by Substack. Substack may collect account, subscription, payment, device, and usage information when you visit, read, subscribe, or pay through Substack. Book purchases are handled by external retailers, distributors, or platforms, which control their own checkout, shipping, tax, refund, and privacy processes.
If a commissioned poem, event, collaboration, or rights license requires payment, payment details may be handled through a bank, payment processor, invoicing provider, or other external financial service. I may retain records of the transaction, invoice, scope, correspondence, and delivery status, but I do not intentionally collect full payment-card details on this website.
7. How I use information
I may use personal information to:
- read and respond to messages;
- evaluate, quote, perform, revise, deliver, and keep records of commissioned work;
- manage permissions, licensing, events, readings, collaborations, and public inquiries;
- send administrative messages related to an inquiry, agreement, invoice, delivery, or rights request;
- maintain, secure, debug, and improve the website;
- prevent misuse, fraud, security incidents, or unauthorized access;
- comply with legal, tax, accounting, contractual, and recordkeeping obligations;
- protect my rights, privacy, safety, property, creative work, and legal interests.
8. Legal bases for processing
Where a legal basis is required, I process personal information based on one or more of the following: your consent, performance of a contract or steps before entering a contract, legitimate interests in operating a public writing and commissions site, compliance with legal obligations, and protection of rights, safety, and security.
9. When information is shared
I do not sell personal information. I may share limited information only when reasonably necessary, including with service providers that support email, hosting, security, invoicing, payment, file storage, shipping, printing, professional advice, or project delivery; with third parties you ask me to involve in a commission, event, publication, rights request, or collaboration; with legal, tax, accounting, or professional advisers; when required by law, subpoena, court order, or lawful government request; when necessary to protect rights, safety, property, or security; or in connection with a business transfer, reorganization, or similar transaction involving this work.
Commission-related information may be shared with printers, framers, venues, event organizers, collaborators, publishers, or delivery providers only as needed to carry out the work you requested or as separately agreed in writing.
10. Cookies and tracking technologies
This site does not intentionally set first-party advertising cookies and does not currently include first-party analytics code. External services may set cookies or use similar technologies when your browser loads their resources or when you visit their websites. You can use your browser settings to limit cookies, block third-party requests, or clear stored data.
Because there is no uniform browser standard for "Do Not Track" signals, this site does not separately respond to those signals. If a recognized legal standard for browser-based opt-out signals applies to this site in the future, I will evaluate and update this notice as needed.
11. Retention
I keep personal information only as long as reasonably needed for the purpose it was collected, including to respond to correspondence, complete or document commissioned work, maintain business records, comply with tax or legal duties, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, preserve creative-rights records, and protect the site. Routine correspondence may be deleted sooner. Records tied to paid work, permissions, contracts, invoices, rights, or disputes may be retained longer where appropriate.
12. Security
I use reasonable administrative and technical safeguards appropriate for a small public website and writing practice. However, no website, email system, hosting provider, payment processor, or internet transmission is completely secure. Please use care when deciding what to send by email, and avoid sending unnecessary sensitive information.
13. International visitors
This site is operated from the United States. If you access it from outside the United States or correspond with me from another country, your information may be processed in the United States or in other countries where service providers operate. Those countries may have data-protection rules different from the laws where you live.
14. Children and minors
This site is not directed to children under 13, and I do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided personal information through this site or by email, contact me so I can take appropriate steps. If a commission concerns a minor or includes a minor's personal story, the adult requesting the work is responsible for having the authority and consent needed to share that information.
15. Your privacy rights
Depending on where you live, you may have rights to request access to personal information, correction of inaccurate information, deletion, restriction or objection to processing, portability, withdrawal of consent, or an appeal of certain privacy decisions. Some rights may be limited by law, identity-verification requirements, legal obligations, freedom-of-expression interests, contractual needs, security, tax records, accounting records, or other legitimate reasons.
To make a privacy request, email salam@ennismsalam.com. I may need enough information to verify your identity and locate the relevant records. If you use an authorized agent, I may require proof of authorization as permitted by law.
16. US state privacy notices
Where applicable US state privacy laws apply, residents of states such as California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and other states may have specific privacy rights. These may include rights to know or access categories of personal information, request deletion or correction, obtain a copy of information, opt out of certain sales, sharing, targeted advertising, or profiling, limit use of sensitive personal information, and avoid discrimination for exercising privacy rights.
I do not sell personal information and do not use this site for targeted advertising. If you believe a state-law right applies to your information, contact me at salam@ennismsalam.com.
17. Updates to this notice
I may update this Privacy Notice from time to time. The updated version will be indicated by the "Last updated" date above. Material changes will apply prospectively unless otherwise required by law.
18. Contact
For privacy questions, requests, or concerns, write to salam@ennismsalam.com.