Privacy Policy

Website: www.visitmillpond.com

Contact: editor@visitmillpond.com

Last updated: March 2026

PLEASE NOTE: This Privacy Policy is written in plain English to make it as easy to understand as possible.

It applies to visitors to www.visitmillpond.com and to subscribers to The Millpond Chronicle email newsletter.

If you have any questions about how we handle your data, please contact us at editor@visitmillpond.com.


1. Who We Are

Millpond is an independent horror fiction project based in the United Kingdom, producing short story collections set in the fictional town of Millpond, New England. The project is operated by the Millpond creative team and is not a registered company.

For the purposes of UK GDPR, we are the data controller for any personal information collected through this website and our email newsletter.

If you have any questions or concerns about your personal data, you can contact us at any time at: editor@visitmillpond.com

2. What Data We Collect

We collect only the minimum data necessary to operate this website and deliver our email newsletter. Specifically, we may collect:

  • Your email address — when you voluntarily sign up to The Millpond Chronicle newsletter

  • Your first name — if you choose to provide it during signup (this is optional)

  • Basic website analytics data — such as the number of page visits, which pages are viewed, and approximate geographic region of visitors (country level only). This is collected anonymously by Squarespace's built-in analytics and does not identify you personally

We do not collect payment information, phone numbers, postal addresses, or any sensitive personal data.

We do not use Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, or any other third-party tracking tools on this website.

3. How We Use Your Data

We use your data only for the purposes you would reasonably expect when signing up:

  • To send you The Millpond Chronicle newsletter, which includes horror fiction content, Millpond world-building, story excerpts, and occasional information about new releases

  • To deliver any free content you have requested, such as an exclusive short story offered as part of our newsletter signup

  • To understand broadly how our website is being used, so we can improve it (using anonymous Squarespace analytics only)

We will never use your email address to send you unrelated marketing, spam, or content from third parties.

4. Legal Basis for Processing (UK GDPR)

Under UK GDPR, we are required to have a lawful basis for processing your personal data. Our lawful basis is:

  • Consent — you have actively opted in to receive our newsletter by completing the signup form and ticking the consent checkbox. You may withdraw this consent at any time by unsubscribing.

  • Legitimate interests — for anonymous website analytics that help us understand how the site is used, where no personal data is involved.

5. MailerLite - Our Email Platform

We use MailerLite to manage our email list and send newsletters. When you sign up to The Millpond Chronicle, your email address (and first name, if provided) is stored securely in MailerLite.

MailerLite is a US-based service and processes data in the United States. MailerLite complies with applicable data protection regulations and has appropriate safeguards in place. You can read MailerLite’s own Privacy Policy at: https://www.mailerlite.com/legal/privacy-policy

We do not share your data with MailerLite for any purpose other than sending you the newsletter you signed up for.

6. Cookies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device when you visit a website. Our website (hosted on Squarespace) uses a small number of cookies for essential functions, such as remembering your preferences and enabling the site to function correctly.

Squarespace may also set analytics cookies to collect anonymous data about site visits. These do not personally identify you.

When you first visit our website, you will be shown a cookie notice. You can choose to accept or decline non-essential cookies at that point. If you decline, your browsing will not be affected, but some non-essential features may not function.

For full details of the cookies Squarespace sets, please visit: squarespace.com/privacy

7. How Long We Keep Your Data

We will retain your email address for as long as you remain subscribed to The Millpond Chronicle. If you unsubscribe, your email address will be removed from our active mailing list. MailerLite may retain a record of the unsubscribe action to ensure we do not contact you again in error.

Anonymous website analytics data is retained by Squarespace in accordance with their own data retention policies.

8. Your Rights Under UK GDPR

As a UK resident, you have the following rights regarding your personal data:

  • The right to access — you can ask us what data we hold about you at any time

  • The right to rectification — you can ask us to correct inaccurate data

  • The right to erasure — you can ask us to delete your data (also known as the 'right to be forgotten')

  • The right to restrict processing — you can ask us to limit how we use your data

  • The right to data portability — you can ask us to provide your data in a portable format

  • The right to withdraw consent — you can unsubscribe from our newsletter at any time using the unsubscribe link at the bottom of every email we send

  • The right to object — you can object to us processing your data in certain circumstances

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at editor@visitmillpond.com. We will respond within 30 days.

If you are unhappy with how we have handled your data, you also have the right to lodge a complaint with the UK's data protection regulator, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), at: ico.org.uk

9. Third-Party Links

Our website and emails may contain links to third-party websites, including Amazon (for book purchases) and Instagram. Once you leave our website, this Privacy Policy no longer applies. We encourage you to read the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of external websites.

10. Children's Privacy

Our website and newsletter are not directed at children under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children. If you believe a child has provided us with their data, please contact us at editor@visitmillpond.com and we will delete it promptly.

11. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in how we operate or in applicable law. When we do, we will update the 'Last updated' date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

If we make any significant changes that affect how we use your data, we will notify subscribers via email.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests relating to this Privacy Policy or your personal data, please get in touch:

Email:    editor@visitmillpond.com

Website:  www.visitmillpond.com

We aim to respond to all data-related enquiries within 30 days.

— The Millpond Team