Terms and Conditions
Please read these Terms and Conditions carefully before using this Site.
These terms were most recently updated on 4th May 2026.
Who We Are and How to Contact Us
https://mashieldhouse.com is a website (the Site) operated by M. A. Shieldhouse (we, us and our). The Site serves as the author platform for Mel Shieldhouse, including information about published works, digital products, and a members area for purchasers of digital content.
To contact us, please email: mel@mashieldhouse.com
By Using Our Site, You Accept These Terms
By using our Site, you confirm that you accept these Terms and Conditions and that you agree to comply with them. If you do not agree to these terms, you must not use our Site.
We May Make Changes to These Terms
We may amend these terms from time to time. Every time you wish to use our Site, please check these terms to ensure you understand the terms that apply at that time. Continued use of the Site after changes are posted constitutes your acceptance of the updated terms.
Who Can Use This Site
Our Site is intended for readers aged 13 and over. As a YA fantasy author, some content on this Site may be of particular interest to younger readers, and we welcome them warmly. We simply ask that readers under 13 enjoy this Site with the guidance of a parent or guardian.
Our Site is accessible internationally. If you access this Site from outside Australia, you do so at your own risk and are responsible for compliance with laws applicable in your location.
Books and Third-Party Retailers
Books published by M. A. Shieldhouse are available for purchase through a number of channels, including directly through our Site and through third-party retailers such as Amazon and independent bookshops.
Where you purchase through a third-party retailer, that purchase is subject to the retailer’s own terms and conditions. We have no control over third-party transactions and are not responsible for any issues arising from purchases made through those platforms.
Where signed copies or other direct purchases are available through this Site, the terms set out in the relevant product listing or order confirmation will apply. Postage and handling costs will be clearly stated at the time of purchase.
As our body of work grows, additional books, products, and offerings will be made available through this Site from time to time. These terms apply to the Site as a whole and will continue to apply to new content as it is added.
Digital Products and Membership Access
Purchase and Access
When you purchase a digital product from our Site, you are purchasing a licence to access that content for personal, non-commercial use. No physical product will be delivered.
Upon successful payment, you will be granted access to the relevant members area of our Site where your purchased content is hosted. Access is provided via a personal account created at the time of purchase. You are responsible for keeping your login credentials secure and must not share your account with others.
Lifetime Access
Where a product is described as offering “lifetime access”, this means access for the lifetime of that content as hosted and operated by M. A. Shieldhouse. We will make reasonable efforts to maintain access to purchased content and will notify members in advance if any hosted content is to be discontinued. In the event of discontinuation, no refund will be issued for purchases already made, except where required by the Australian Consumer Law.
Refund Policy
Due to the digital nature of our products, we do not offer refunds once access has been granted, except where required under the Australian Consumer Law. If you experience a technical issue preventing access to your purchased content, please contact us at mel@mashieldhouse.com and we will do our best to resolve it promptly.
User Accounts
An account will be created for you when you purchase a digital product or sign up for a free membership tier. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials. Please contact us immediately if you believe your account has been compromised.
We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your account and access to purchased content if you are found to be sharing your login credentials, reproducing or distributing the content, or otherwise breaching these terms.
Intellectual Property
We are the owner or licensee of all intellectual property rights in our Site, and in all material published on it, including but not limited to all written stories, audio recordings, characters, fictional worlds, and all creative works published under the M. A. Shieldhouse name. Those materials are protected by copyright laws and treaties around the world. All such rights are reserved.
You may print off one copy, and may download extracts, of any page from our Site for your personal use and you may draw the attention of others to content posted on our Site. You must not modify any materials you have printed off or downloaded, and you must not use any illustrations, photographs, video or audio sequences or graphics separately from any accompanying text.
You must not use any part of the content on our Site for commercial purposes without obtaining a licence to do so from us. If you print off, copy, or download any part of our Site in breach of these terms, your right to use our Site will cease immediately.
Information on This Site
The content on our Site is provided for general information only. Although we make reasonable efforts to keep information accurate and up to date, we make no representations or warranties that the content on our Site is accurate, complete, or current.
Third-Party Links
Where our Site contains links to other sites and resources provided by third parties, these links are provided for your information only. We have no control over the contents of those sites and you access third-party websites entirely at your own risk.
Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, we exclude all liability for any loss or damage arising out of or in connection with your use of our Site, any content on it, or any products or services obtained through it.
Nothing in these terms affects any liability which cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law, including liability under the Australian Consumer Law. Where our liability cannot be excluded, we limit it to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Security and Viruses
We do not guarantee that our Site will be secure or free from bugs or viruses. You are responsible for configuring your own technology to access our Site safely and should use your own virus protection software.
Prohibited Uses
You may use the Site only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these terms. You agree not to use the Site:
- In any way that violates any applicable law or regulation;
- To exploit, harm, or attempt to harm minors in any way;
- To transmit unsolicited advertising or promotional material;
- To impersonate us, our employees, or any other person or entity;
- In any way that may harm us or other users of the Site.
Linking to Our Site
You may link to our home page, provided you do so in a way that is fair and legal and does not damage our reputation. You must not establish a link in such a way as to suggest any form of association, approval, or endorsement on our part where none exists.
If you wish to link to or make any use of content on our Site other than as set out above, please contact us at mel@mashieldhouse.com.
Governing Law
These terms, their subject matter, and their formation are governed by the law of the State of Queensland, Australia. You and we both agree that the courts in Queensland, Australia will have exclusive jurisdiction.
Last updated: 4th May 2026