Privacy policy

Who I am

This website, https://brandonquinnbooks.com, is run by Brandon Quinn (“I”, “me”). It used to be at brandon-quinn.com; old links redirect here. If you have a question about this policy or your information, use the contact form.

The short version: the site works without collecting anything about you. Analytics run only if you say yes. Your email address is used only for the newsletter you sign up for or to answer a message you send.

Analytics (only with your consent)

When you first visit, a banner asks whether I may use Google Analytics 4. Nothing is loaded from Google and no analytics cookie is set unless you choose “Accept analytics”. If you choose “Decline”, or ignore the banner, analytics stay off.

If you accept, Google Analytics records which pages you view, how you arrived (for example, the referring site), your browser and device type, and an approximate location derived from your IP address. It sets first-party cookies named _ga and _ga_<ID>, which last up to two years. I use these reports only to see which pages people read. Google processes this data under the Google Privacy Policy (opens in a new tab).

Your choice is stored in your browser’s local storage under the key bq-analytics-consent. It is not sent anywhere. You can change it at any time with “Cookie settings” at the bottom of every page. Withdrawing consent stops analytics and deletes the analytics cookies this site set. If you use the dark mode switch, your choice is stored in your browser’s local storage under the key bq-color-scheme. It is not sent anywhere.

Newsletter

If you subscribe, your email address goes to this website’s own server, which passes it on to MailerLite (MailerLite Limited, Ireland). MailerLite stores the subscriber list and sends the emails, and records details such as the time of sign-up and whether emails are opened or links clicked. I use the list only to send the newsletter. Every email has an unsubscribe link. See the MailerLite privacy policy (opens in a new tab).

The sign-up form has the same spam protection as the contact form below: the same small puzzle solved by your browser, and a short-lived counter per IP address, stored as a one-way hash and used only to cap the number of sign-ups per hour. Your address isn’t kept on this server.

Contact form

When you send a message, your name, email address, the topic you choose and your message are emailed to me so I can reply. They are kept in my mailbox for as long as needed to handle your message. To limit spam, the server keeps a short-lived counter for each IP address, stored as a one-way hash and used only to cap the number of messages per hour.

Before a message is sent, your browser solves a small automatic puzzle that costs bots time. The puzzle comes from this website’s own server and no data goes to a third party; the server only keeps a note that each puzzle has been used, so it can’t be used twice, not who solved it. The check needs JavaScript; without it, you can email me instead at contact@brandonquinnbooks.com.

Amazon affiliate links

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links to Amazon on this site are affiliate links. If you follow one, Amazon may set cookies to record that you came from this site; that happens on Amazon’s website, under Amazon’s own privacy notice. This site does not receive any information about you or what you buy.

Embedded content from other websites

Some blog posts include embedded content, such as videos, games or chess boards from other websites. Embedded content behaves the same way as if you visited the other website directly. Those websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with the embedded content.

Hosting and server logs

Like most web servers, the server that hosts this site records requests in log files, including IP address, browser user agent, the page requested and the time. These logs are used for security and to keep the site running.

What this site does not do

• It has no user accounts and no comments.
• It does not send push notifications. (The old site offered OneSignal push notifications; that service has been retired.)
• It does not sell or rent your information, and it shows no ads.

Your rights

You can ask me what information I hold about you, and ask me to correct or delete it, through the contact form. You can unsubscribe from the newsletter with the link in any email, and withdraw analytics consent with “Cookie settings”. Depending on where you live, you may also have the right to complain to a data protection authority.

Changes to this policy

If this policy changes, the new version will be posted on this page with a new “Last updated” date.