Rachel Barnett ("I," "me," or"my") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal data. This privacy policy explains how I collect, use, and safeguard your information when you visit my website rachelbarnettauthor.com (the"Website") and when you subscribe to my newsletter.
This policy complies with the UK General Data ProtectionRegulation (UK GDPR) and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
1. INFORMATION I COLLECT
I collect and process the following personal data:
**Newsletter Subscription**
When you subscribe to my seasonal newsletter, I collect:
• Your first name
• Your email address
**Contact Form**
When you contact me through the website contact form, I collect:
• Your name
• Your email address
• Your message content
• Any other information you choose to provide
**Website Analytics**
I use analytics services to understand how visitors use my website. This may include:
• Your IP address
• Browser type and version
• Pages you visit on my website
• Time and date of your visit
• Time spent on pages
• Referring website
**Cookies**
My website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. You can control cookies through your browser settings. For more information, see the "Cookies" section below.
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2. HOW I USE YOUR INFORMATION
I use your personal data for the following purposes:
**Newsletter (Consent - Article 6(1)(a) GDPR)**
• To send you my seasonal newsletter (approximately 4 times per year)
• To share book news, behind-the-scenes content, and reading recommendations
• You can withdraw consent and unsubscribe at any time using the unsubscribe link in every email
**Contact Enquiries (Legitimate Interest - Article 6(1)(f)GDPR)**
• To respond to your questions or enquiries
• To communicate with you about book club visits, media requests, or other professional matters
s**Website Analytics (Legitimate Interest - Article 6(1)(f)GDPR)**
• To understand how visitors use my website
• To improve website functionality and user experience
• To analyse website traffic and trends
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3. LEGAL BASIS FOR PROCESSING
Under GDPR, I can only process your personal data if I have a legal basis to do so:
• **Consent**: You have given clear consent for me to process your personal data for a specific purpose (e.g., newsletter subscription)
• **Legitimate Interests**: Processing is necessary for my legitimate interests (e.g., responding to enquiries, understanding website traffic)
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**Data Storage**
• Newsletter subscriber data is stored securely with my email service provider, MailerLite
• Contact form submissions are stored in my email inbox
• Website analytics are processed by Google Analytics
**Data Security**
I implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure.
**Data Retention**
• Newsletter subscribers: I retain your data until youunsubscribe
• Contact form submissions: I retain your data for as long as necessary to respond to your enquiry, typically no more than 2 years
• Website analytics: Anonymised analytics data is retained according to the analytics provider's data retention policy
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5. SHARING YOUR DATA
I do not sell, trade, or rent your personal data to third parties.
I may share your data with:
• **MailerLite**: To manage and send newsletters
• **123 Reg**: To host and maintain my website
• **Google Analytics**: To analyse website traffic
These third-party service providers are required to protect your data and only use it for the purposes I specify.
I will also disclose your information if required by law or to protect my rights, property, or safety.
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6. INTERNATIONAL DATA TRANSFERS
Some of the third-party service providers I use may process your data outside the UK and European Economic Area (EEA). When this happens, I ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as:
• Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission
• The service provider's adherence to recognised data protection frameworks
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7. YOUR RIGHTS UNDER GDPR
You have the following rights regarding your personal data:
**Right to Access**: You can request a copy of the personal data I hold about you
**Right to Rectification**: You can ask me to correct any inaccurate or incomplete data
**Right to Erasure**: You can ask me to delete your personal data (subject to certain legal exceptions)
**Right to Restrict Processing**: You can ask me to limit how I use your data in certain circumstances
**Right to Data Portability**: You can request a copy of your data in a structured, commonly used format
**Right to Object**: You can object to processing based on legitimate interests
**Right to Withdraw Consent**: You can withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent (e.g., unsubscribe from newsletter)
To exercise any of these rights, please contact me at hello@rachelbarnettauthor.com
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8. UNSUBSCRIBING FROM THE NEWSLETTER
You can unsubscribe from my newsletter at any time by:
• Clicking the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom ofany newsletter email
• Emailing me at hello@rachelbarnettauthor.com
I will process your request promptly, typically within 48hours.
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9. COOKIES
My website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience.
**What are cookies?**
Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website.
**Types of cookies I use:**
**Essential Cookies**
These cookies are necessary for the website to function properly and cannot be disabled.
**Analytics Cookies**
These cookies help me understand how visitors use my website(e.g., which pages are most popular). The information is anonymised and used to improve the website.
**Managing Cookies**
You can control and delete cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling cookies may affect website functionality.
For more information about cookies, visit www.allaboutcookies.org
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10. THIRD-PARTY LINKS
My website may contain links to other websites (e.g., online bookstores, social media platforms, publisher websites). This privacy policy applies only to my website. If you click on a link to another website, you should read their privacy policy.
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11. CHILDREN'S PRIVACY
My website and newsletter are not directed at children underthe age of 16. I do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe I have inadvertently collected data from a child, please contact me immediately.
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12. CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY
I may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in my practices or legal requirements. I will post any updates on this page with a new "Last Updated" date.
I encourage you to review this privacy policy periodically.
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13. CONTACT ME
If you have any questions about this privacy policy or how I handle your personal data, please contact me:
Email: hello@rachelbarnettauthor.com
Website: www.rachelbarnettauthor.com
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14. COMPLAINTS
If you believe I have not handled your personal data properly, you have the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority:
**UK**: Information Commissioner's Office (ICO)
Website: www.ico.org.uk
Email: casework@ico.org.uk
Phone: 0303 123 1113
**EU**: Your local Data Protection Authority
Website: https://edpb.europa.eu/about-edpb/board/members_en
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© 2026 Rachel Barnett. All rights reserved.