Privacy notice

Who is responsible

Aurora Cold is responsible for the personal information collected through this website.

What the form collects

The ARC form collects your email address and your first name if you provide it. The newsletter form asks only for your email address. The forms record your request, its source (for example, this website or a book’s printed link), when you submitted or confirmed it, and the versions of the consent wording and privacy notice you saw. Newsletter records include subscription and unsubscribe status and the technical status of the emails sent to you.

Your email address is required; on the ARC form your name is optional. Please use your own address. Your subscription starts as soon as you send the form with the consent box ticked; there is no separate confirmation step. ARC requests are recorded separately and are not treated as newsletter subscriptions.

Two separate choices

• Advance reader copy: choosing this option allows your details to be used to consider and manage your request for Where Steel Failed, including contact about that request.
• Newsletter: the separate signup form asks for consent to receive news about The Old Hunger, future releases and previews. You become subscribed when you send it with the consent box ticked. You can request an ARC without joining the newsletter.

These uses are based on the consent you give through your selected options. Neither option is selected in advance. Technical safeguards against spam and misuse are based on the legitimate interest in keeping the website and reader requests secure.

What happens after you send

Signing up sends one email through the dedicated Aurora Cold mailbox hosted by Aruba, with my short story Three Signatures Before Dawn to read online or download as EPUB or PDF. Nothing is attached; the reading and download links are the same for every reader and contain nothing about you. Only the unsubscribe link is personal, so that it can stop your letters. If you sign up again with an address that is already subscribed, the same email is sent again at most once a day.

Readers who joined before the story was ready may receive the same email once.

An on-screen receipt confirms that a request was received. It does not confirm inbox delivery or acceptance for an advance reader copy. The ARC form does not send an automatic email or subscribe you to the newsletter. Earlier unconfirmed newsletter preferences are not automatically enrolled.

Storage and access

Records are stored in a private database dedicated to this website, hosted by Aruba. Newsletter records are kept separately from ARC requests and from Italian-market systems. Access is limited to those responsible for the relevant service and maintaining the website, and the hosting and mail provider where needed to operate the service.

These forms do not send your details to BookFunnel, BookSirens or an external newsletter platform, and your details are not sold. Links to other websites lead to services with their own privacy notices.

How long information is kept

Reader requests are kept for as long as needed to consider and manage the request. Active newsletter details are kept while you remain subscribed. Pending requests and delivery records are retained only as needed to complete signup, prevent abuse and resolve delivery problems. Unsubscribing stops future newsletter messages; limited suppression and consent records may remain so your choice can be respected and documented.

Limited records may need to be retained to document your choices or withdrawal, meet legal obligations or handle claims. Security records are retained according to what is needed to prevent misuse and investigate incidents.

Change your mind or exercise your rights

You can stop the newsletter using the unsubscribe link in a newsletter email, which opens a page asking you to confirm your choice. You can also withdraw either choice at any time by emailing aurora@theoldhunger.com. Say whether you want to withdraw your ARC request, stop newsletter updates, or both. Withdrawal does not affect processing that was lawful before you withdrew.

After you unsubscribe, the signup form won’t sign up the same address again for 30 days, so that nobody else can add you back. If you change your mind sooner, write to me at aurora@theoldhunger.com.

You may request access to, correction or deletion of your information, restriction of processing, and a portable copy where applicable. You may object to processing based on legitimate interests and to direct marketing. You can also complain to your local data protection authority.

Cookies and technical records

This website and form do not use analytics trackers, marketing cookies or third-party newsletter widgets. The forms do not set cookies. Newsletter messages contain no tracking pixels or click-tracking redirects.

Technical request data are used to limit automated abuse. The form stores coded security counters separately from reader requests. Hosting server logs may also contain technical information such as IP addresses, request times and browser details for operating and securing the service.

The form does not use profiling or automated decisions to select ARC readers.