Privacy Policy

Last updated: 28 September 2026

This privacy policy explains how I collect, use and protect personal information when you visit Jo Chinn Author or contact me through this website.

Who I am

This website is operated by Jo Chinn, author and owner of Arnewood Books.

If you have any questions about this privacy policy or about information I hold about you, please contact me using the Contact page on this website.

Information I collect

I may collect personal information that you choose to provide when you contact me through this website. This may include:

  • your name;
  • your email address;
  • the subject of your enquiry; and
  • any information you include in your message.

I may also receive your email address if you contact me directly or ask to join my newsletter.

The website and its hosting services may also process limited technical information necessary for the operation and security of the website, such as IP addresses and browser or device information.

How I use your information

I use personal information only where necessary to:

  • respond to messages and enquiries;
  • communicate about author talks, book clubs, events or other requests;
  • send my newsletter to people who have specifically asked to receive it;
  • maintain appropriate records of newsletter consent and unsubscribe requests; and
  • operate, maintain and protect this website.

I do not sell personal information or provide my mailing list to other organisations for their own marketing.

Lawful basis for using your information

When you contact me, I process the information you provide in order to respond to your request or enquiry. Depending on the nature of the enquiry, this processing is based on taking steps at your request before entering into a contract, performing a contract, or my legitimate interests in responding to correspondence and administering my author activities.

If you ask to receive my newsletter, I rely on your consent. You can withdraw that consent at any time by using the unsubscribe option provided with the newsletter or by contacting me.

Newsletter

I only add people to my newsletter mailing list when they have asked to receive it, for example by contacting me through this website, emailing me, or signing up at an event.

I keep a record of newsletter consent so that I know when and how someone asked to join the mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time. If you unsubscribe, I will stop sending you newsletters. I may retain a minimal record of your opt-out so that I do not accidentally add you to the mailing list again.

How long I keep your information

I keep personal information only for as long as it is reasonably needed for the purpose for which it was collected, or where I need to retain it for legal, accounting or administrative purposes.

Newsletter details are retained while you remain subscribed. If you unsubscribe, I may retain only the information necessary to record your opt-out.

Sharing your information

I do not sell or trade your personal information.

Information may be processed by service providers that I use to operate my website, email or newsletter services. These providers process information only as necessary to provide those services.

Cookies and website data

This website may use cookies or similar technologies that are necessary for the website to function properly and securely.

If additional analytics, advertising or other non-essential cookies are introduced in the future, this policy and the website’s cookie arrangements will be updated as necessary.

Links to other websites

This website contains links to external websites and services. If you follow an external link, that organisation’s own privacy policy and practices will apply. I am not responsible for the privacy practices of other websites.

Your rights

Under UK data protection law, you may have rights in relation to your personal information, including the right to ask for access to your information, to have inaccurate information corrected, to ask for information to be erased in certain circumstances, to restrict or object to certain processing, and to withdraw consent where consent is the basis for processing.

If you have a concern about how your personal information is being used, please contact me first so that I can try to resolve it. You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the UK’s data protection regulator.

Changes to this policy

I may update this privacy policy if the website or the way I use personal information changes. The date at the top of this page will show when it was last updated.