Substack Subscription Terms & Conditions of Service

Stacks Publishing | Sozoku Pty Ltd (ACN 155 228 701)

Last updated: October 2026

Introduction

These terms apply specifically to paid subscriptions to Stacks Publishing's Substack publications, including:

By purchasing a paid subscription to any of these publications, you agree to be bound by these terms in addition to Substack's own platform terms of service. These terms form a legally binding agreement between you (the Subscriber) and Sozoku Pty Ltd trading as Stacks Publishing (ACN 155 228 701).

If you have any questions before subscribing, please contact us at hello@stackspublishing.com.

Nothing in these terms excludes, restricts, or modifies any non-excludable rights you hold under the Australian Consumer Law (Schedule 2 to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)).

1. Substack Subscriptions and Included Services

1.1 Certain Stacks Publishing Substack publications offer paid subscription tiers that include professional services or deliverables provided by Stacks Publishing. These may include book marketing reviews, book listings, promotional posts, editorial reviews, ARC campaigns, or other publishing-related services, depending on the publication subscribed to.

1.2 By purchasing a paid subscription, you acknowledge and agree that:

(a) the subscription includes one or more services or deliverables to be provided during the subscription period;

(b) the subscription fee covers the full cost of the included service or services, even if those services are delivered early in the subscription term; and

(c) except as set out in clause 6.4, no pro-rata or partial refunds will be issued if you cancel or fail to utilise any benefits during the subscription period.

1.3 Stacks Publishing reserves the right to vary the timing, format, or method of delivery of included services at its discretion, provided the overall service commitment for the subscription period is reasonably fulfilled.

1.4 Subscribers are responsible for maintaining an active Substack account and ensuring payment processing via Substack remains current. All subscription management, including renewals, cancellations, and billing, is governed by Substack's platform terms in addition to these terms.

2. The Substack Bookstore Subscriptions

2.1 What is included

A paid annual subscription to The Substack Bookstore (buybooks.substack.com) includes:

(a) listing of your book or books in the active Bookstore catalogue, included in curated genre newsletters sent to our subscriber base;

(b) eligibility for genre round-up features and promotional spotlights across The Substack Bookstore network;

(c) access to the paying subscriber community chat;

(d) access to free author tools provided to paying subscribers, including the Amazon Optimisation Checklist and any tools added during the subscription period; and

(e) for Featured Spotlight tier subscribers: inclusion in up to six Bookstore shelf pages with images, extended blurbs, and purchase links, plus priority promotional features including long-form posts, Notes, and newsletter inclusions circulated across The Substack Bookstore network and affiliate communities.

(f) Subscribers who are current as Featured Spotlight Tier members as at 1 September 2026 are eligible to go live on Substack with Fleur Hull for 30 minutes to promote their book on a given date during their year of subscription, subject to calendar availability and subject to the subscriber still being a Featured Spotlight Tier member as at the date of their go-live.

(g) For the sake of clarity, except as set out in clause 6.4, no full or pro-rata refunds will be issued once paid subscriptions have been taken up, as paid subscriptions provide access to hundreds of dollars worth of author tools, along with promotional benefits.

2.2 Pricing

Current pricing is displayed on the Bookstore's subscribe page and is subject to change. Price changes apply to new subscribers and renewals only. Existing subscribers are not repriced mid-subscription period without notice.

2.3 Refunds and cancellations

(a) The annual subscription fee covers the totality of the included services, even if the main deliverables occur early in the subscription term.

(b) Except as set out in clause 6.4, no pro-rata, partial, or early cancellation refunds apply once your listing has been activated or your campaign has commenced.

(c) Subscribers are responsible for submitting all required book information, assets, and materials in the format and timeframe requested by Stacks Publishing. Delays in submission do not entitle you to a refund or extension.

2.4 Disclaimer

Inclusion in The Substack Bookstore does not guarantee specific sales, reviews, rankings, or reader engagement outcomes. Results may vary. Stacks Publishing uses reasonable skill and care in all promotional activities but cannot guarantee bestseller status or revenue outcomes.

3. Free Books First Subscriptions

3.1 What is included

A monthly or annual paid subscription to Free Books First (freebooksfirst.substack.com) includes:

(a) one ARC or beta reader campaign, in which your book is featured to Free Books First's reader community of 2,000+ readers actively seeking early access titles;

(b) delivery of your book to readers via BookFunnel or an equivalent service; and

(c) a results summary delivered to you on completion of your campaign.

3.2 Nature of the service

(a) Free Books First is a facilitation and matchmaking service. Stacks Publishing coordinates the campaign and connects your book with readers but does not control, edit, guarantee, or influence the content, tone, or timing of individual reader feedback or reviews.

(b) Typical campaign response rates are 10 to 20 percent of readers who receive the book. This is an indicative range only and is not guaranteed.

(c) Reviews and feedback are not guaranteed. Readers receive your book for free in exchange for an honest review but are under no contractual obligation to post publicly.

3.3 Post-campaign subscription

(a) Once your campaign is complete, Stacks Publishing will contact you with a results summary and information about the ongoing benefits of maintaining your subscription, which may include restacks of your promotional posts and priority access to future campaign slots.

(b) You may cancel your subscription at any time after your campaign is complete. No refund will be issued for the period already elapsed.

(c) If you choose to remain subscribed after your campaign completes, you acknowledge that the primary deliverable of the subscription has been fulfilled and that ongoing benefits are supplementary.

3.4 Author responsibilities

(a) You must provide a complete, lawful, and properly formatted digital book file suitable for distribution via BookFunnel or equivalent.

(b) You warrant that the material supplied does not infringe the rights of any third party and indemnify Stacks Publishing against any related claims.

(c) You agree not to pressure, influence, or solicit specific review outcomes from readers.

3.5 Refunds

(a) Refunds will not be issued based on dissatisfaction with the volume, content, or tone of reader feedback or reviews received.

(b) If Stacks Publishing is unable to fulfil your campaign within a reasonable timeframe due to circumstances within its control, a partial or full refund may be offered at Stacks Publishing's discretion.

4. Editorial Reviews Subscriptions

4.1 What is included

A monthly or annual paid subscription to Editorial Reviews (editorialreviews.substack.com) includes:

(a) your book read and reviewed by one verified Editorial Reviews reviewer in your genre, up to 100,000 words;

(b) a written editorial review of 200 or more words, suitable for use in marketing materials, on your Amazon Author Central page, and for other promotional purposes; and

(c) a star rating from 1 to 5, representing the reviewer's honest independent assessment.

4.2 Nature of reviews

(a) All Editorial Reviews are conducted by vetted, paid reviewers engaged by Stacks Publishing. Reviewers are matched to books by genre where possible.

(b) Reviews represent the honest, independent opinion of the reviewer and are not influenced by Stacks Publishing. Star ratings reflect the reviewer's genuine assessment and cannot be adjusted or negotiated after delivery.

(c) Stacks Publishing does not guarantee positive reviews or specific star ratings.

4.3 Low rating policy

(a) If a reviewer assigns a rating of 2 stars or below, Stacks Publishing will contact you privately before the review is finalised and provide you with the option to:

(i) receive the review and rating as delivered and use it at your discretion; or

(ii) receive the review as private written feedback only, not for public use, with a credit of 50% of your subscription fee toward another Stacks Publishing service.

(b) Ratings of 3 stars and above will be delivered as standard without prior consultation.

(c) This policy exists to ensure authors are never blindsided by a public review they were not aware of. It does not constitute a guarantee of a minimum rating.

4.4 Use of reviews

(a) Delivered reviews may be used for marketing, Amazon Author Central editorial reviews, A+ content, or other promotional purposes.

(b) You must not edit or alter a reviewer's words in a way that misrepresents the reviewer's intent or opinion.

(c) Credit to the reviewer and/or Stacks Publishing must be given where required.

4.5 Refunds

(a) Stacks Publishing guarantees delivery of a written review under the Editorial Review service but does not guarantee the sentiment, tone, or rating of that review.

(b) Refunds will not be issued based on dissatisfaction with the content, tone, or star rating of a delivered review.

(c) If a reviewer fails to deliver within a reasonable timeframe and Stacks Publishing is unable to reassign the review, a partial or full refund may be offered at Stacks Publishing's discretion.

4.6 Confidentiality

All Editorial Reviews reviewers engaged by Stacks Publishing agree to handle your manuscript in confidence and not to distribute, reproduce, or share it outside the review process. Stacks Publishing takes reasonable steps to ensure confidentiality but cannot guarantee against unauthorised sharing by third parties. Authors are encouraged to supply watermarked or DRM-enabled files where appropriate.

5. Beyond Hourly Subscriptions

5.1 What is included

A paid subscription to Beyond Hourly (beyondhourly.substack.com) provides:

(a) full access to all paywalled posts, including detailed strategy frameworks, templates, execution guides, and author marketing resources;

(b) access to the paying subscriber community chat; and

(c) any additional benefits announced to paid subscribers during the subscription period.

5.2 Nature of the subscription

Beyond Hourly is an ongoing editorial subscription. Unlike the other Stacks Publishing Substack publications, it does not include a one-time service deliverable. It is a recurring subscription providing continuous access to paid content for as long as the subscription remains active.

5.3 Refunds

Refunds are not available for Beyond Hourly subscriptions except where required under Australian Consumer Law.

6. Author Submissions, Content Standards and Promotional Use

6.1 Application and definitions

(a) This section applies to all authors who submit a book for listing, review, campaign or promotion with The Substack Bookstore, Free Books First, Editorial Reviews, or any other publication operated by Stacks Publishing that accepts book submissions (together, the Bookstore Network).

(b) In this section:

(i) AI-generated means a book whose substantive content (its text, narrative, argument or prose) was produced in whole or in substantial part by generative artificial intelligence, where the human contribution is limited to prompting, selecting, compiling, arranging or lightly editing AI output.

(ii) AI-assisted means a book whose substantive content was created by the author, where artificial intelligence tools were used to support the author’s own work. This includes dictation and transcription, spelling and grammar checking, structural or editing suggestions reviewed and applied by the author, research support, and accessibility tools.

(iii) Stacks Publishing Entities means Sozoku Pty Ltd trading as Stacks Publishing, The Substack Bookstore, each publication in the Bookstore Network, and their contractors and authorised representatives.

6.2 AI-generated books

(a) The Bookstore Network does not accept submissions of AI-generated books.

(b) AI-assisted books are accepted. This policy exists so that neurodivergent authors, authors with disability, and authors who rely on assistive technology have fair access to the Bookstore Network. Authors are not required to disclose any disability or personal circumstance to submit an AI-assisted book.

(c) By submitting a book, you warrant that it is not AI-generated. Stacks Publishing may ask you to describe how AI tools were used in creating your book, and you agree to answer honestly.

(d) If Stacks Publishing reasonably determines that a submitted book is AI-generated, it may decline or remove the listing, review or campaign. Where this occurs because of a breach of the warranty in clause 6.2(c), no refund will be issued, except where required under Australian Consumer Law.

6.3 Copyright and promotional licence

(a) You retain full copyright and all other intellectual property rights in your book and associated materials. Nothing in these terms transfers ownership of your work to any Stacks Publishing Entity.

(b) By submitting your book, you grant the Stacks Publishing Entities a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use, reproduce, format, crop, resize, publish and distribute the following materials (Promotional Materials) for promotional purposes:

(i) your book’s title, cover image, blurb, metadata and purchase links;

(ii) short excerpts of your book, not exceeding 10 per cent of the work;

(iii) your author name, author photograph and author biography; and

(iv) reviews, ratings and testimonials relating to your book obtained through the Bookstore Network.

(c) Promotional purposes include, without limitation, newsletters, Substack posts and Notes, websites, email marketing, social media, and paid advertising on any platform. Promotional Materials may be used to promote your book, your work as an author, and the Bookstore Network and its services.

(d) Live events and recordings. Where you take part in a live event, livestream, interview or recorded session with any Stacks Publishing Entity (including Substack Lives), you consent to that event being recorded. You grant the Stacks Publishing Entities a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to use, edit, excerpt and publish the video and audio recording, including your name, image, likeness and voice, in whole or in edited clips, for the promotional purposes described in clause 6.3(c), including paid advertising.

(e) Duration. The licences in this clause 6.3 continue for the term of your subscription. After your subscription ends, content already published (including archived posts and recordings) may remain available, and recordings may continue to be used. On your written request after your subscription ends, Stacks Publishing will stop creating new paid advertising featuring your book within 30 days.

(f) Moral rights. To the extent permitted by law, you consent to the Stacks Publishing Entities doing acts in relation to your Promotional Materials and recordings that might otherwise infringe your moral rights under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). This includes cropping, excerpting, editing, reformatting, and using materials without attribution where attribution is impractical, such as in short-form advertising.

(g) Your warranties. You warrant that you own or are licensed to grant the rights in this clause 6.3, including rights in your cover design, cover images, author photograph and any third-party content. You indemnify the Stacks Publishing Entities against any claim arising from a breach of this warranty.

(h) No fee, royalty or other payment is payable to you for any use permitted under this clause 6.3.

6.4 Right to refuse or remove a listing

(a) Stacks Publishing retains the right, at its discretion, to decline to list, review, promote or run a campaign for any book, or to remove a book already listed. Reasons may include, without limitation, genre or audience fit, quality, content standards, a breach of these terms, or the AI policy in clause 6.2.

(b) If Stacks Publishing declines or removes your book for reasons other than your breach of these terms, it will refund the unused portion of your subscription fee, calculated pro rata on the whole months remaining in your subscription period at the date you are notified. Refunds are processed through Substack.

(c) Clause 6.4(b) applies despite clauses 1.2(c), 2.1(g) and 2.3(b).

6.5 Contact us before subscribing

(a) Stacks Publishing strongly encourages authors to contact hello@stackspublishing.com before subscribing, to confirm their book is a good fit for the Bookstore Network and likely to benefit from being listed.

(b) By subscribing without first confirming fit, you acknowledge and accept the risk that your book may be declined under clause 6.4, and that your remedy in that case is limited to the refund described in clause 6.4(b), except where Australian Consumer Law provides otherwise.

7. General Provisions

7.1 Governing law These terms are governed by the laws of Western Australia. The parties submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of its courts and courts of appeal.

7.2 Privacy Stacks Publishing handles personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and its Privacy Policy at stackspublishing.com/privacy-policy.

7.3 Changes to these terms Stacks Publishing may update these terms on notice. Changes apply to future subscriptions and renewals. Existing subscribers will be notified of material changes before their next renewal date.

7.4 Contact Sozoku Pty Ltd trading as Stacks Publishing (ACN 155 228 701) Email: hello@stackspublishing.com Website: stackspublishing.com

These Substack Subscription Terms should be read alongside the full Stacks Publishing Terms and Conditions of Service available at stackspublishing.com/publishing-terms-and-conditions. In the event of any inconsistency between these Substack Subscription Terms and the full Terms and Conditions, these Substack Subscription Terms prevail in respect of Substack subscription matters.