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Site policy

Cookie Notice

Last updated:

This notice explains the cookies and similar technologies used in connection with Amanda Durkan Writes.

What cookies are

Cookies are small pieces of information stored through a browser.

They can be used to:

  • provide requested website features;
  • recognise a signed-in account;
  • maintain security;
  • prevent fraud;
  • process payments;
  • remember preferences;
  • measure how a service is used.

Cookies currently used on Amanda Durkan Writes

Amanda Durkan Writes does not use advertising cookies or third-party analytics cookies.

Ghost’s native website analytics are enabled and operate without analytics cookies.

Member authentication cookies

When you sign in as a member, Ghost stores secure authentication cookies on amandadurkan.com:

  • ghost-members-ssr
  • ghost-members-ssr.sig

They allow Ghost to recognise the signed-in session and provide:

  • account access;
  • member-only or paid content;
  • newsletter preferences;
  • commenting;
  • other authenticated member features.

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide the member service requested.

Stripe payment cookies

Stripe processes paid subscriptions and one-off tips. Stripe cookies are stored on Stripe-controlled domains after you open checkout.

Cookies and related technologies observed on Stripe-controlled domains included:

  • __stripe_mid;
  • __stripe_sid;
  • __cf_bm;
  • Stripe and fraud-prevention identifiers supplied through Stripe’s security providers.

They are used for:

  • checkout;
  • payment processing;
  • fraud prevention;
  • account and transaction security;
  • bot and abuse detection;
  • maintaining payment-session integrity.

These cookies are controlled by Stripe and its security providers rather than Amanda Durkan Writes.

Strictly necessary cookies used to provide a service expressly requested by the user can be exempt from prior consent, although clear information must still be provided.

Ghost analytics

Ghost’s native website analytics are enabled.

They are first-party and cookie-free. They provide information about visits, traffic sources and content performance.

Newsletter open and link-click measurements are also enabled. These measurements relate to email delivery and interaction rather than browser cookies placed on the public website.

Contact form

The contact form is processed by Formspark through submit-form.com. Submitting the form does not add cookies to amandadurkan.com.

Formspark still processes the information submitted through the form even where no browser cookie is stored.

Tally polls

Polls are hosted by Tally.

They are linked as separate external pages rather than embedded into Amanda Durkan Writes. Tally does not load through this site before you choose to follow the link.

Once you visit Tally, its own privacy and cookie practices apply.

Tally assigns a persistent Respondent ID to distinguish submissions and prevent duplicates.

External links and embedded content

The site may contain links to, or embedded content from, external services.

A normal external link does not load the other service through Amanda Durkan Writes. The provider is contacted after you follow the link.

Embedded content can contact its provider when:

  • the page loads;
  • the content becomes visible;
  • you interact with it.

The provider may use cookies or similar technologies.

Managing cookies

You can view, block or delete cookies through your browser settings.

Blocking all cookies can stop features from working, including:

  • member sign-in;
  • account access;
  • comments;
  • restricted content;
  • subscription management;
  • Stripe checkout and payment processing.

Amanda Durkan Writes currently does not intentionally place non-essential browser cookies that require a general consent banner.

This position is based on the current configuration and tested flows:

  • Ghost native analytics are cookie-free;
  • member cookies are used for requested authentication features;
  • Stripe cookies load when payment functionality is opened;
  • Tally is linked rather than embedded;
  • the tested contact-form flow added no cookies;
  • no advertising or third-party marketing analytics are installed.

The site’s cookie controls and this notice will be reviewed if new analytics, advertising, affiliate tracking or embedded services are introduced.

Changes to this notice

The services and technologies used by the site can change.

The “last updated” date on this page identifies the latest version of the notice.

Questions can be submitted through the contact form.