Privacy Policy
Last Updated: January 4, 2026
Your privacy matters. This Privacy Policy explains how A Thistle in the Wind (“we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, and protects your personal information when you visit athistleinthewind.com.
What Information We Collect
Information You Provide:
- Name and email address when you subscribe to our newsletter
- Name, email, and message content when you contact us through our contact form
- Name, email, and any information you include when you leave a comment on our blog posts
Automatically Collected Information:
- IP address
- Browser type and version
- Device information
- Pages you visit on our site
- Time and date of your visit
- Referring website addresses
- General location data (country/region level, not precise location)
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Send you our newsletter and email updates (only if you subscribe)
- Respond to your inquiries submitted through our contact form
- Display and manage comments on blog posts
- Improve our website and content based on how visitors use the site
- Analyze site traffic and user behavior to create better content
- Prevent spam and abuse
Third-Party Services
We use the following third-party services that may collect and process information:
Kit (formerly ConvertKit): We use Kit to manage our email newsletter. When you subscribe, your email address and name are stored on Kit’s servers. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email. Kit’s privacy policy: https://convertkit.com/privacy
Google Analytics 4: We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our site (pages viewed, time on site, traffic sources, etc.). Google Analytics collects information anonymously and reports website trends without identifying individual visitors. Google’s privacy policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
Google Search Console: We use Google Search Console to monitor our site’s performance in Google search results. This does not collect personal information from visitors.
Semrush: We use Semrush for SEO analysis and site performance tracking.
Web Hosting: Our website is hosted by NameCheap. Your information may be stored on their servers. NameCheap’s privacy policy: https://www.namecheap.com/legal/general/privacy-policy/
Cookies
Our website uses cookies to improve your browsing experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device that help our site remember your preferences and analyze how you use our site.
We use cookies for:
- Site performance and caching (via WP Rocket)
- Analytics and traffic measurement (via Google Analytics)
- Remembering your preferences
- Affiliate link tracking (when you click affiliate links)
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or delete existing cookies. Note that disabling cookies may affect site functionality and your user experience.
Affiliate Links & Advertising
Affiliate Links: Some links on this site are affiliate links. When you click these links and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate networks may use cookies to track referrals. We only recommend products and services we genuinely use or believe in. See our Affiliate Disclosure for more details.
Display Advertising: We do not currently use display advertising networks (like Google AdSense) on this site.
Comments
When you leave a comment on our blog, we collect the information you provide in the comment form (name, email, website if provided, and comment content).
- Your email address will not be published or shared publicly
- We may use your email to respond to your comment if needed
- Comments are moderated to prevent spam
- You can request deletion of your comments by contacting us
Data Retention
- Email subscribers: We retain your email address and name as long as you remain subscribed. You can unsubscribe at any time.
- Contact form submissions: We retain messages sent through our contact form for up to 1 year unless you request deletion.
- Comments: We retain approved comments indefinitely as part of our blog content. You can request deletion at any time.
- Analytics data: Google Analytics retains data according to their retention policies (typically 26 months).
Your Rights
You have the right to:
- Access the personal information we hold about you
- Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
- Delete your personal information (right to be forgotten)
- Object to our processing of your personal information
- Withdraw consent for email communications at any time by unsubscribing
- Request a copy of your data in a portable format
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at: sura@athistleinthewind.com
International Data Transfers
This website is operated from Turkey, but our audience is global. By using this site, you consent to your information being transferred to and processed in Turkey and by third-party services (like Kit and Google) which may store data in the United States or other countries.
Children’s Privacy
This website is not intended for children under 13 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have collected information from a child under 13, please contact us immediately.
Security
We take reasonable measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, loss, misuse, or alteration. However, no internet transmission is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we make changes, we will update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your personal information, please contact us:
Email: sura@athistleinthewind.com
Contact Form: athistleinthewind.com/contact