Privacy notice
Last updated: 17 October 2026
Who we are
fearparadox.com is the website for The Fear Paradox, a book by Cain Blythe. Cain Blythe runs the site as an individual and decides how the personal data collected here is used, so in this notice "we" means him. If you have a question about your data, or want to use any of the rights below, email [email protected] or use the contact form.
What we collect, and why
The launch list
When you join the launch list we store your email address, your first name if you give it, which form you used, whether you ticked the box asking for updates, and when you signed up. We use these details to send you chapter previews, field dispatches and launch news. The lawful basis is your consent. We only add you if you tick the box, and you can withdraw at any time by asking us to take you off the list.
The competitions
For the cover competition we store your email address, your first name if you give it, your one-line idea, the medium you chose and whether you ticked the updates box. If you email artwork to [email protected], we keep that email and the artwork. For the 2075 competition we store your email address, your first name if you give it, your written entry and whether you ticked the updates box. We use these details to run the competition and contact entrants. The lawful basis is our legitimate interest in running the competition you chose to enter. If you also tick the updates box, we add you to the launch list on the basis of your consent. The competition terms explain how entries are judged and used.
The contact form
When you send an enquiry we store your name, email address, organisation if you give it, the topic you chose and your message. We use these to read and reply to you. The lawful basis is our legitimate interest in answering messages sent to us.
The Fear Baseline quiz and the cover vote
The quiz stores your result and scores, and the page that referred you, but not your name or email address. The cover vote stores your choice and a shortened, one-way code made from your IP address, which helps us spot repeat voting.
Cookies
The site sets a small number of cookies it needs to work: one remembers whether you prefer the light or dark theme, one remembers that you have already joined the list, and one remembers that you have voted in the cover poll. Each lasts up to 12 months. Our forms can use Cloudflare Turnstile, a check that stops automated spam, and it may set its own cookies. We do not use advertising cookies.
Who else handles your data
Cloudflare hosts the site, stores the form details above in its database service and runs the Turnstile spam check. It also forwards email sent to [email protected] and [email protected] to our Gmail account. Google provides that Gmail account, which receives both addresses, including emailed competition artwork, and which we use to email the launch list. An older copy of the launch list and contact enquiries, from before the site moved to Cloudflare in April 2026, sits in a paused Supabase project that is due to be deleted. We do not sell your data or share it with anyone for their own marketing.
How long we keep it
- Launch list: until you unsubscribe or ask to be removed. If the book project ends, we delete the whole list. We review it once a year.
- Contact enquiries: 12 months after our last reply. Spam is deleted straight away.
- Competition entries, including emailed artwork: six months after the winners are announced. Winners' names stay for as long as they appear in the book's acknowledgements.
- Cover vote codes: deleted when the vote closes. We keep only the totals.
- Fear Baseline results: kept while the quiz runs. They are not linked to a name or email address.
Your rights
Under UK data protection law you can ask for a copy of the personal data we hold about you, and ask us to correct it, delete it or restrict how we use it. You can object to us using it, ask for it in a portable format, and withdraw your consent at any time. Withdrawing consent does not affect anything we did before you withdrew it. To do any of these, email [email protected] or use the contact form. We will reply within one month.
If you are unhappy with how we have handled your data, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk. We would appreciate the chance to put things right first.