Last updated: 25 September 2026

This policy explains how I, Rachel Kapelke-Dale, use personal information collected through rachelkapelkedale.com, my email sign-up forms, and communications you send me. It covers the author website and prelaunch writing-course updates. I will update it before accepting course enrollments or payments.

Who is responsible for your information

I am the person responsible for the uses of personal information described here (the “data controller”).

Privacy contact: info@rachelkapelkedale.com

You can use this email address to ask a privacy question or exercise your rights. Business-identification and postal-contact information, where required, belongs in the site's separate Legal Notice.

What I collect and why

Providing an email address is optional unless you want a reply, an emailed resource, or email updates. You can browse most of the site without signing up. Please provide only the information necessary for your request.

Email choices

I keep author news and writing-course updates as distinct sign-ups. I send promotional emails only within the scope of the choice you made. Each marketing email includes an unsubscribe method. Unsubscribing stops future marketing from that list; it does not prevent necessary replies to a request you make or messages about a purchase.

I retain enough information about sign-up and withdrawal to respect your choice and demonstrate how the subscription was obtained. I do not give my mailing lists to other organizations for their own marketing.

Service providers and links to other sites

I use Squarespace to host and operate this website and Gmail to manage sign-ups and email delivery. These providers process information as needed to supply their services.

The site may link to Instagram, Substack, publishers, or other websites. If you follow an external link, that site's operator has its own privacy practices. This policy covers my use of information, not the independent operation of those sites.

Cookies and analytics

Squarespace uses technologies needed for the website to function. crumb, ss_cvr, and ss_cvt are enabeled on this site. Nonessential cookies, where used, are subject to the choices offered in the site's cookie controls. You can change your choice through accepting or rejecting nonessential cookies on the site’s pop-up button. You can also manage cookies through your browser, although blocking essential functions may affect the site.

For details of the cookies in use, see Squarespace’s cookie notice at https://support.squarespace.com/hc/en-us/articles/360001264507-The-cookies-Squarespace-uses. This policy does not itself replace a cookie-consent control where one is required.

How long I keep information

* Contact messages: normally up to two years after our last substantive exchange, unless a longer period is necessary for a contract, dispute, or legal obligation.

* Marketing subscriptions: while you remain subscribed, with a review of inactive prospect records no later than three years after collection or your last affirmative contact. Merely opening an email does not reset that period. If you unsubscribe, I retain the minimum suppression and consent information needed to honor the request and document compliance.

* Free-resource delivery records: only as long as needed to deliver and troubleshoot the request, unless you separately subscribed to updates.

* Technical and cookie data: for the periods applicable to the tools and settings actually used on this site; see the site-specific cookie information above.

I delete, anonymize, or securely archive information when it is no longer needed for its stated purpose, subject to applicable legal obligations.

International processing

Squarespace and the email service identified above may process information outside the European Economic Area. Where required, I rely on appropriate transfer arrangements made available by those providers, such as European Commission standard contractual clauses or an applicable adequacy decision. Contact me if you would like more information about the arrangements relevant to your data.

Your rights

Depending on the circumstances, you can ask to access, correct, erase, or restrict the use of your personal information; object to certain uses; and receive information you provided in a portable format. You can withdraw marketing consent at any time without affecting earlier lawful processing. To make a request, email info@rachelkapelkedale.com. I may need to verify your identity before acting on a request.

You also have the right to complain to the French data-protection authority, the CNIL, at cnil.fr.

Changes

I may update this policy when the site, course services, or applicable requirements change. The date at the top shows the latest revision. If a change materially affects how I use information already collected, I will take any additional steps required before using it for the new purpose.