Privacy policy

This website (melissablaustein.com) is operated by Melissa Saxe Blaustein, based in Sausalito, California. This policy explains what personal information the site collects, how it is used, and the choices you have. If you have any questions, contact us at hello@melissablaustein.com.

We only collect personal information that you choose to give us, plus the basic technical information needed to run a website:

• Contact form: your name, email address, the reason for getting in touch and your message.
• Speaking inquiry form: your name, email address, organization, preferred dates and details about your event.
• First chapter sign-up: your email address.
• Technical information: like most websites, our hosting provider automatically processes information such as your IP address, browser type and the pages you request, so the site can be delivered and protected against abuse.

Newsletter subscriptions are handled directly by Substack through the form embedded on this site (see below).

This website does not set its own cookies and does not use analytics, advertising or tracking technologies.

Pages that include the Substack subscribe form load it from Substack, which may set its own cookies and collect technical information in line with the Substack privacy policy. You can block or delete third-party cookies in your browser settings.

• To reply to your messages and speaking or media inquiries.
• To send you the first chapter and related emails you have asked for.
• To operate, maintain and secure the website.
• To comply with legal obligations.

Every marketing email includes an unsubscribe link, and you can opt out at any time.

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it for targeted advertising. We share it only with:

• Service providers who help us run the site, store form submissions and deliver email, such as our website host, Airtable and our email provider. They may only use it to provide services to us.
• Authorities or others where required by law, or to protect our rights or the safety of others.

Melissa’s essays and newsletter are published on Substack. If you subscribe through the embedded form or on Substack itself, your information is collected and managed by Substack under its own terms and privacy policy.

We keep personal information only for as long as needed for the purpose it was collected, such as replying to your inquiry or sending emails you have signed up for, and then delete it, unless we need to keep it longer to meet a legal obligation.

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

You can ask to access, correct or delete the personal information we hold about you, or unsubscribe from our emails, by contacting hello@melissablaustein.com. We will not discriminate against you for making a request.

California residents: we do not sell or share personal information, and we do not disclose it to third parties for their own direct marketing purposes.

We do not track visitors over time or across other websites, and we do not sell or share personal information, so there is nothing for a “Do Not Track” or Global Privacy Control signal to switch off. Visitors are treated the same whether or not their browser sends one.

This website is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. If you believe a child has given us personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

This website is operated from the United States. If you visit from elsewhere, your information will be processed in the United States.

This site links to other websites, such as press coverage, podcasts and social media. We are not responsible for their privacy practices, so please review their policies.

We may update this policy from time to time. Changes take effect when posted here, and the date at the top of the page will be updated.

Melissa Saxe Blaustein
Sausalito, California
hello@melissablaustein.com