Author & Vendor Terms

Author & Vendor Terms

Last updated: March 2026

These Author & Vendor Terms govern your participation as a seller on Reader’s Shack. They are in addition to the general Terms and Conditions which also apply to your use of the site.

Reader’s Shack is operated by Hayshack Enterprises, based in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

1. Eligibility

To sell on Reader’s Shack, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Hold all necessary rights to the content you wish to sell
  • Register a Vendor account and provide accurate personal and payment information
  • Agree to these terms in full

Vendor accounts are subject to approval. We reserve the right to decline, suspend, or terminate Vendor access at our discretion, including for violation of these terms.

2. Getting Your Books on Reader’s Shack

Books are typically submitted through AI Write My Book, our partner platform. Once your manuscript is complete, it can be published to Reader’s Shack through the AWMB publishing flow.

Direct Vendor applications may also be accepted. Contact support@hayshack.co.za for details.

3. Revenue Share

Reader’s Shack operates on the following commission structure:

  • Authors receive 70% of each net sale (after payment processing fees deducted by our payment provider)
  • Reader’s Shack retains 30% as a platform commission

We reserve the right to adjust commission rates with reasonable advance notice to active Vendors. Changes will not apply retroactively to existing sales.

4. Payouts

Earnings accumulate in your Vendor dashboard. Payouts are subject to:

  • A minimum withdrawal threshold (shown in your dashboard)
  • Verification of your payment details (currently PayPal)
  • Our standard payout schedule, as displayed in your dashboard

We are not responsible for delays caused by incorrect payment details or third-party payment processor issues. Ensure your payout details are correct and up to date.

5. Pricing

You set the price for each book. You may change pricing at any time through your Vendor dashboard. Prices must be set in USD. We reserve the right to require minimum pricing to ensure platform viability.

6. Intellectual Property — Your Warranties

By listing content on Reader’s Shack, you warrant and represent that:

  • You are the sole author and owner of the content, or you hold all rights and licences required to sell it
  • Your content does not infringe any third-party copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property right
  • Your content contains no plagiarised material
  • You indemnify Hayshack Enterprises against any claim, loss, or liability arising from a breach of these warranties

You grant Reader’s Shack a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to display, reproduce, and distribute your content through the Platform for the purpose of selling it to buyers.

We reserve the right to remove any content we reasonably believe infringes a third party’s intellectual property rights, without prior notice.

7. Content Standards

All content listed on Reader’s Shack must comply with the following. Content must not:

  • Be illegal in South Africa or the country of any intended buyer
  • Contain hate speech, incitement to violence, or discrimination based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected characteristics
  • Contain explicit sexual content (unless specifically permitted under a separate written agreement)
  • Contain malicious code, phishing links, or any harmful or deceptive content
  • Make false or misleading claims about the book’s content, authorship, or credentials
  • Violate any person’s privacy or right of publicity

We reserve the right to remove or refuse any content that does not meet these standards, at our sole discretion, with or without notice.

8. Author Responsibilities

As a Vendor, you are responsible for:

  • The accuracy and quality of your book descriptions, cover images, and metadata
  • Keeping your account information and payment details current
  • Responding to legitimate customer queries forwarded to you in a timely manner
  • Compliance with all applicable laws in your jurisdiction
  • Reporting any suspected unauthorised use of your account immediately

9. Termination

Either party may terminate the Vendor relationship at any time. Pending earnings at the time of termination will be paid out in accordance with the standard payout schedule, subject to any outstanding disputes or withheld amounts.

We may immediately suspend or terminate a Vendor account — and withhold earnings — if we reasonably believe fraudulent activity, content policy violations, or intellectual property infringement has occurred.

10. Limitation of Liability

Reader’s Shack provides a platform and is not responsible for the content you create or sell. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Hayshack Enterprises is not liable for:

  • Lost earnings due to buyer refunds, disputes, or payment processor decisions
  • Service interruptions or data loss beyond our reasonable control
  • Any indirect or consequential loss arising from your participation as a Vendor

11. Governing Law

These Author & Vendor Terms are governed by South African law. Any disputes are subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of South Africa.

12. Changes to These Terms

We may update these terms at any time. Active Vendors will be notified of material changes. Continued use of the Vendor account after notification constitutes acceptance.

13. Contact

For Vendor queries: support@hayshack.co.za