Last updated: July 5, 2026
Cookies. Not the kind you eat in bed while reading my stories. These cookies are small files that this site stores in your browser so things work and I can tell what’s working. Here’s what’s on the plate.
This policy covers readsterling.com, operated by an India-registered sole proprietorship as S. H. Sterling.
The kinds of cookies this site uses
Strictly necessary — no consent needed, the site breaks without them: – Login/session cookies (keeping you signed in as a member) – Your age-gate answer (so I don’t ask “are you an adult, sweetie?” on every page) – Your cookie-consent choice itself – Security and caching cookies
Functional: – Preferences that make your visit smoother (e.g., chat display settings during Sterling Dates)
Analytics — only with your consent: – Google Analytics and related tools, so I can see which stories and pages people love. Anonymous patterns, not personal surveillance.
Third-party: – Instagram (Meta) — the Instagram feed embedded on some pages can set cookies if you interact with it – Kit (ConvertKit) — the newsletter signup form may set functional cookies – Luma — if you RSVP to a Sterling Date through their embedded flow
Third-party cookies are governed by those companies’ own policies. I don’t control them; I chose these providers because they behave.
Your choices
The consent banner on your first visit lets you Accept All, Reject All, or Customize. You can change your mind anytime — clear the site’s cookies in your browser and the banner will ask again.
Rejecting non-essential cookies won’t lock you out of anything. The stories don’t care whether you’re measured.
You can also block cookies entirely in your browser settings, though strictly necessary ones being blocked means logins and the age gate may misbehave.
Changes
If the cookie set changes, this page changes, with the date updated above.
Questions?: Write to sterling@readsterling.com
— S. H. Sterling