If you are about to subscribe to my e-newsletter, email me, or contact me on social media (or if you have already done any of these things), you should read this policy. The general information about website security, links to third party websites and use of cookies applies to all visitors. This policy was last updated on 1 January 2023.
Please be assured that I take your privacy extremely seriously. I only ever ask you for the information I need, and I never sell lists or email addresses.
By subscribing to my e-newsletter you consent to receiving details of newsworthy events and incidental information, which may include but will not be limited to a free e-book, details of new releases, special offers, competitions and giveaways. I do not store your personal information. Instead, my list of newsletter subscribers is managed on a third party site called MailChimp. When you sign up to my newsletter, you consent that I can:
- Transfer your contact information to MailChimp
- Store your contact information in my MailChimp account
- Send you newsletters/emails from my MailChimp account
- Track interactions (e.g. click and open rates) for email marketing purposes.
All MailChimp forms collect your email address, IP address, and add their own timestamp which serves as evidence that you have provided consent. I do not have access to the distribution lists of other MailChimp users and they do not have access to mine. If you subscribe to my e-newsletter and use the ‘forward to a friend’ (FTF) link, this will allow you to share my email content with individuals who are not on my distribution list. You can be assured that when you forward an email to a friend, MailChimp doesn’t store your friend’s email address, and it will not be added to my distribution list.
Read MailChimp’s Privacy Policy here.
In order to demonstrate that you have elected to sign up to my e-newsletter, after you complete your details you will receive an email asking you to confirm your intention. This process is known as ‘double opt-in.’
If I meet you at an event and you provide me with your name and email address/other contact details on the understanding that I will sign you up to e-newsletter, you will receive an email asking you to confirm that you want to join the lists.
How can I unsubscribe?
You can stop receiving e-newsletters at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions included at the foot of every update I send you.
Requests to Join my Mailing List
If you have either asked to join or have accepted a personal invitation to join one of my mailing lists, I will assume that by providing me your email address, you are giving me consent to process your personal information.
Requests for Review Copies of Books
I use the service provided by Bookfunnel to send free ebooks as review copies to those who actively request them. They do not receive any of your personal information from me: I send you the link to where the book’s file is stored on their server, and you use the link to download the free book in the format of your choice. Here is Bookfunnel’s privacy policy.
Legitimate business interest
If you contact me via the contact form on my website or email me directly, I will simply reply, relying on lawful basis of processing (in other words, I will not ask for your consent before replying). I will not enter your details on any database without your consent, but your name and email address will automatically be stored as a ‘contact’ within my Gmail account. I may also store the email/email chain if it contains details I think I may need to refer back to, especially if it contains a review of my work.
Social Media
If you comment on my social media accounts, records of those transactions will be held by the relevant social media channels. I have access to databases of followers on Twitter and Facebook. In these instances, I am not the data processor. However, I use strong passwords and two factor authentication on these sites.
Fulfilment of a contract
If you ask me to visit your book club, Women’s Institute group or similar gathering to give a talk, I may also store details of the location, even if I do not make a charge for the personal appearance. I will always ask for your permission to photograph the event and to store and make use of those photographs after the event.
If you order physical books from me directly on a one-off basis, I will retain your postal address in case of difficulties with delivery. If you pay me via PayPal, a record of that transaction will be stored on PayPal’s website. If you transfer money directly to my bank account, my bank will retain a record of that transaction.
Minors
I do not knowingly collect or maintain personal information from individuals under 16 years of age, and no part of my website is designed or intended to attract people under the age of 16. Protecting the privacy of children is very important to me. If you are under 16, do not use or provide any information on the website or provide any information about yourself to us, including your name, address, telephone number, e-mail address or any screen name or user name you may use. If I obtain knowledge that a user is under the age of 16, I will take steps to remove that user’s personal information from my databases.
How long will you keep my personal information for?
If you have subscribed to e-newsletter, you may unsubscribe at any time. If you do not open the emails I send you, I may delete your details in any case.
Your rights
You are entitled to ask me what information I hold about you and how I am processing that data. This is called a Subject Access Request. To file a request, simply use the contact form on my website. I aim to respond to all requests within seven days. The information I hold about you and how I am processing it would be provided via email, usually with a screenshot or other appropriate medium.
What if my personal information is wrong?
You can ask me to correct your personal information at any time.
Can I ask you to stop processing my personal information?
Yes. You can also exercise your right to request to be forgotten.
The right to be forgotten
If you unsubscribe from my e-newsletter, your data will be automatically deleted.
You have the right to request to be forgotten. If you have used the contact form or emailed me, on receipt of your request, I will delete your data.
For social media, you have control of your own accounts and can change the settings so that I will no longer have access to your data.
Website security
My website is managed by WordPress.com, which backs up information held on my website and runs regular security scans. My website has an SSL Certificate. This activates the padlock and https protocol and allows secure connections from a web server to a browser. Typically, SSL is used to secure credit card transactions (although I don’t conduct sales from my website), data transfer and logins, and is becoming the norm when securing browsing of social media sites.
How can I control and delete cookies?
WordPress uses cookies. If you wish to restrict or block the cookie, you can do this through your browser settings. The ‘Help’ feature within your web browser should tell you how. Alternatively, you may wish to visit www.aboutcookies.org, which contains comprehensive information on how to manage privacy and security settings on a wide variety of web browsers and how to delete cookies from your computer (including those from this visit). For information on how to do this on your mobile device, you will need to refer to its user guide.
Data breaches
I use strong password-protecting on my computer, website and social media. If my computer, website or social media accounts were compromised, I would notify you at the earliest opportunity, seek advice and take steps to follow that advice immediately.
Links to other websites
My website, blog posts and newsletters contain links to other websites. Once you use these links, you will leave my website. I am not responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide whilst visiting such sites. Please exercise caution and look at the privacy statement applicable to the website in question.
