Author42

FAQ, Terms and Privacy

Nonfiction42 helps aspiring authors turn their knowledge, experiences and interests into compelling nonfiction book ideas. Through personalized conversations with Morrow, an AI-powered coach, authors refine their central idea, explore potential nonfiction genres and identify their target audience before they start to write. The framework we developed not only teaches authors what goes into writing a book, from researching tactics to find evidence to support an argument to creating the outline, but also what's involved in turning a manuscript into a self-published book.

Nonfiction42 also helps authors understand the implications of using generative artificial intelligence in the writing process, particularly when it comes to federal copyright protection. Under U.S. copyright law, human-authored expression is eligible for protection, and AI-generated content is permitted so long as it makes up a de minimis, or trifling, amount of the work. Determining where to draw the line is difficult because the industry lacks a reliable way to establish provenance, meaning which text was AI-generated and which was human-written. AI detectors aren't reliable enough to serve as evidence, so we don't use them. For copyright purposes, using AI to outline and inspire ideas is acceptable because you can't copyright ideas, only the expression of them.

Although publishers and professional organizations are establishing their own policies governing acceptable AI use, no uniform, industrywide standard exists. Nonfiction42 helps authors navigate these evolving expectations through educational guidance, practical explanations and authoritative resources, including those published by the U.S. Copyright Office. Nonfiction42 does not provide legal advice.

Author42 offers monthly and annual billing cycles. When you subscribe to a paid plan, you start with a 14-day free trial. After the trial, your payment method is charged automatically at the start of each billing period.

You can view your billing history, current plan, and usage on your Billing page. Invoices and receipts are available as PDF downloads.

If your usage exceeds your plan's token limit, overage charges are calculated at $0.0002 per token and added to your next invoice.

Tokens are the unit of measurement for AI processing on Author42. When you use any AI feature (generating text, editing, brainstorming), both your input and the AI's output are measured in tokens.

As a rough guide, 1 token is approximately 0.75 words. So 100,000 tokens is roughly equivalent to processing 75,000 words of combined input and output.

Each plan includes a monthly token allowance:

  • Free: 20,000 tokens/month
  • Starter: 100,000 tokens/month
  • Pro: 500,000 tokens/month
  • Studio: 1,000,000 tokens/month

Your token usage resets every 30 days.

When you log in at author42.com, your session is automatically recognized by all Author42 applications, including Fiction42 and Nonfiction42 and any future apps.

This means you only need to sign in once. If your browser doesn't support third-party cookies, we fall back to JWT-based authentication passed between apps.

The Author42 family also includes Gamers42 and Movie42, which are separate applications that Author42 links to. A paid Author42 plan includes access to both Fiction42 and Nonfiction42. However, Gamers42 and Movie42 each require separate sign-ups and have their own pricing.

Yes, you can cancel your subscription at any time from your Billing page. When you cancel:

  • Your paid features remain active until the end of your current billing period
  • You will not be charged again
  • Your account reverts to the Free plan after the billing period ends
  • Your content and data are preserved even on the Free plan

You can resubscribe at any time to regain access to paid features.

We accept all major credit and debit cards through Stripe Link, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Stripe Link also supports Apple Pay and Google Pay in supported browsers. All payment processing is handled securely by Stripe. Author42 never stores your full card number.

We take data security seriously. Here's how we protect your information:

  • Passwords are hashed with scrypt and random salts (never stored in plain text)
  • Sessions use secure, httpOnly cookies with CSRF protection
  • All data is transmitted over TLS-encrypted connections
  • Rate limiting protects against brute-force attacks
  • We do not use your content to train AI models

For full details, see our Privacy Policy.

Each plan offers progressively more tokens and features:

  • Free ($0): 20,000 tokens/month. Great for trying out the platform.
  • Starter ($20/mo): 100,000 tokens/month. Fiction & non-fiction support; export to multiple formats.
  • Pro ($40/mo): 500,000 tokens/month. Everything in Starter plus Priority support.
  • Studio ($80/mo): 1,000,000 tokens/month. Everything in Pro plus Dedicated support.

All paid plans include a 14-day free trial. Annual billing saves approximately 17%. Visit our Pricing page for full details.

Discount codes can be applied on the Pricing page before checkout. There are three types of codes:

  • Percentage discount: Reduces your subscription price by a percentage (e.g., 25% off).
  • Fixed amount: Reduces your price by a fixed dollar amount.
  • Token grant: Adds bonus tokens to your account immediately.

Some codes may have usage limits, expiration dates, or restrictions to specific plans. Each code can typically be used once per account.

Effective Date: March 20, 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing or using the Author42 platform ("Service"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, you may not use the Service. These Terms apply to all users, including registered members, visitors, and anyone who accesses or uses the Service.

2. Description of Service

Author42 is an AI-powered writing platform that provides tools for authors, including fiction writing assistance, content generation, editing tools, and publishing support. The Service is accessed through web applications hosted at author42.com and its subdomains.

The Service includes, but is not limited to:

  • AI-assisted writing and editing tools
  • Fiction and non-fiction content generation
  • Story planning and world-building features
  • Document export and formatting
  • Account management and billing

3. User Accounts

To use certain features of the Service, you must create an account. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account.

You must notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms.

4. Subscriptions & Billing

Author42 offers both free and paid subscription plans. Paid plans are billed on a monthly or annual basis, depending on your selection at checkout. By subscribing to a paid plan, you authorize us to charge your payment method on a recurring basis.

  • Free Plan: Limited token usage per month at no cost.
  • Paid Plans: Starter, Pro, and Studio tiers with increasing token limits and features.
  • Overages: Paid plans may incur overage charges if token usage exceeds your plan limit.
  • Trials: Paid plans include a 14-day free trial. You will not be charged until the trial period ends.
  • Cancellation: You may cancel your subscription at any time. Access to paid features continues until the end of your current billing period.
  • Refunds: Refund requests are handled on a case-by-case basis. Contact support for assistance.

5. Intellectual Property

The Author42 platform, including its software, design, logos, and documentation, is the intellectual property of Author42 and its licensors. You may not copy, modify, distribute, or reverse-engineer any part of the Service without explicit permission.

You retain all ownership rights to the content you create using the Service. Author42 does not claim ownership of your original works.

6. AI-Generated Content

Content generated by our AI tools is produced based on your inputs and prompts. You are responsible for reviewing and editing AI-generated content before publication. Author42 does not guarantee the accuracy, originality, or fitness for purpose of AI-generated content.

You agree not to use AI-generated content in ways that violate applicable laws, infringe on third-party rights, or produce harmful, misleading, or deceptive content.

7. Privacy

Your use of the Service is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. By using the Service, you consent to the collection and use of your information as described in our Privacy Policy.

8. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your access to the Service at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice. Upon termination, your right to use the Service ceases immediately. You may request an export of your data before account deletion.

You may terminate your account at any time by using the account deletion feature or by contacting support.

9. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, AUTHOR42 AND ITS AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, USE, OR GOODWILL, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH YOUR USE OF THE SERVICE.

Our total liability for any claim arising from these Terms or the Service shall not exceed the amount you paid to Author42 in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim.

10. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, United States, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising from these Terms shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association.

11. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify users of material changes by posting the updated Terms on the Service and updating the effective date. Your continued use of the Service after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

12. Contact

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us at:

Author42
Email: info@author42.com

Effective Date: March 20, 2026

1. Information We Collect

We collect information you provide directly when you create an account and use the Service:

  • Account Information: Name, email address, and password (hashed). If you sign in with Google, we receive your Google profile information.
  • Payment Information: Billing details are processed by Stripe. We store only your Stripe customer ID and last four digits of your card for display purposes.
  • Usage Data: Token consumption, feature usage, and interaction patterns to improve the Service.
  • Content: Text you input into our AI tools for processing. See section 4 for details on how this data is handled.
  • Device Information: Browser type, IP address, and device identifiers collected automatically.

2. How We Use Information

We use the information we collect to:

  • Provide, maintain, and improve the Service
  • Process transactions and manage your subscription
  • Send transactional emails (verification, password reset, billing receipts)
  • Monitor usage for billing and rate-limiting purposes
  • Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security threats
  • Respond to support requests and communicate with you
  • Comply with legal obligations

3. Data Sharing

We do not sell your personal information. We share data only in the following circumstances:

  • Service Providers: We share data with trusted third parties who help us operate the Service, including Stripe (payments), SendGrid (email), and Google (authentication).
  • AI Processing: Content you submit for AI processing is sent to our AI providers (e.g., Google Gemini) for generation. See section 4.
  • Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if required by law, regulation, or legal process.
  • Business Transfers: In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your data may be transferred.

4. AI & Data Processing

When you use our AI writing tools, the text you provide is sent to third-party AI services for processing. We want you to understand how this works:

  • Your content is sent to AI providers solely for the purpose of generating responses to your requests.
  • We do not use your content to train AI models.
  • AI-generated content is returned to you and stored in your account.
  • AI providers may temporarily process your data according to their own privacy policies.
  • We recommend not including sensitive personal information in AI prompts.

5. Data Security

We take reasonable measures to protect your information:

  • Passwords are hashed using scrypt with random salts
  • Sessions are managed with secure, httpOnly cookies
  • API keys are stored as SHA-256 hashes (the key itself is never stored)
  • Database connections use TLS encryption
  • We implement rate limiting to prevent brute-force attacks

No method of transmission over the Internet is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

6. Your Rights (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have the following rights:

  • Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
  • Rectification: Request correction of inaccurate data
  • Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data
  • Portability: Request your data in a structured, machine-readable format
  • Objection: Object to processing of your personal data
  • Restriction: Request restriction of processing

To exercise these rights, contact us at info@author42.com. We will respond within 30 days.

7. Data Retention

We retain your account data for as long as your account is active. After account deletion:

  • Account information is deleted within 30 days
  • Usage logs and analytics data are anonymized
  • Payment records are retained as required by law (typically 7 years)
  • Backups containing your data are purged within 90 days

8. Cookies

We use cookies for the following purposes:

  • Session Cookies: Essential for authentication and maintaining your login state across the platform (author42.com and its subdomains).
  • Preference Cookies: Store your settings and preferences.

We do not use third-party tracking or advertising cookies. You can configure your browser to reject cookies, but this may limit your ability to use the Service.

9. Children's Privacy

The Service is not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately and we will delete it.

10. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify users of material changes by posting the updated policy on the Service and updating the effective date. Your continued use of the Service after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

11. Contact

If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:

Author42
Email: info@author42.com

Still have questions? Write to us here and press Send.

Contact us

Thank you for your message