Legal · elleekay.com

Privacy Policy

Last updated: 29 May 2026

This Privacy Policy explains what information is collected from visitors to elleekay.com, how it is used, and the steps taken to protect it. It applies to everyone who visits the site, signs up for the newsletter, browses the bookstore, or contacts the author.

Information Collected

Information is only collected when a visitor chooses to provide it. That includes:

Newsletter sign-ups — name and email address.
Contact form submissions — name, email address, and the message sent.
Comments on blog posts — name, email address, and any optional website URL.
Bookstore orders — billing and shipping address, email address, phone number where supplied, and order history. Payment card details are entered directly into the payment processor and are not stored on this site.

Standard server logs (page requests, IP address, browser type) are kept for routine site maintenance and security.

How Information Is Used

Information is used to fulfill the purpose for which it was given:

Newsletter contacts receive new-release announcements, occasional updates, and the lead-magnet content they signed up for.
Contact form messages and blog comments are read and, where appropriate, replied to.
Order details are used to process, ship, and provide support for bookstore purchases.
Server logs are used to keep the site running and to investigate problems or abuse.

Information is not sold, rented, or traded.

Third-Party Services

Running a working website depends on a handful of trusted services. These are the ones currently in use:

Hosting

The site is hosted by SiteGround. Visiting the site involves sending standard request data (including IP address) to their servers so that pages can be delivered.

Newsletter contacts are managed through Tarvent. When the newsletter form is submitted, the name and email address provided are sent to Tarvent and stored there until the contact unsubscribes or requests removal. Every newsletter email contains an unsubscribe link.

Bookstore & Payments

The bookstore is built on WooCommerce. Payment processing is handled by the payment provider chosen at checkout (such as Stripe or PayPal); their own privacy policies apply to the card data they collect. Paperback fulfillment for print-on-demand titles is handled by BookVault, which receives the shipping name and address required to deliver the order. Direct-shipped orders are packed and posted by the author.

Spam & Bot Protection

Comments are filtered by Akismet, which checks the comment, name, email address, IP, and user agent against its spam database. Forms may use Google reCAPTCHA to block automated submissions; Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms apply to that interaction.

Retailer Links

Buy links to Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and similar retailers leave this site and are governed by those retailers’ own privacy policies. Some Amazon links use the Amazon Associates affiliate tag elleekay-20, which may earn a small commission on qualifying purchases at no extra cost to the reader.

Cookies

This site uses a small number of cookies, all functional rather than tracking:

Session cookies set by WordPress and WooCommerce to keep the shopping cart, checkout, and login working.
Comment cookies that remember the name and email address entered on a comment form so they don’t have to be typed again.
reCAPTCHA cookies set by Google when a protected form is used.

Most browsers allow cookies to be cleared or blocked through their settings. Blocking cookies entirely may prevent checkout or login from working.

Analytics & Advertising Tracking

The site does not currently run Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, the Meta (Facebook) Pixel, or any other third-party behavioral-advertising tracker. If that changes, this policy will be updated and visitors will be notified by an updated “Last updated” date below the title.

Data Retention

Information is kept only for as long as it is needed:

Newsletter records are kept until the contact unsubscribes.
Order records are kept for as long as required for customer support, tax reporting, and applicable accounting law.
Comments remain attached to their post unless removed by request.
Contact form messages are kept while a conversation is active, then deleted or archived.

Data Security

The site is served over HTTPS. Reasonable steps are taken to protect the information stored, including hardened hosting, strong passwords, limited admin access, and routine software updates. No method of transmission over the internet is ever entirely secure, so absolute security cannot be guaranteed.

Your Rights

Visitors located in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, California, and other regions with applicable privacy laws have the right to:

Request a copy of the personal information held about them.
Ask for corrections to inaccurate or incomplete information.
Request deletion of their information, subject to legal record-keeping requirements.
Unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time using the link in any newsletter email.
Object to or restrict certain processing.

Requests can be sent to the contact address below and will be answered as quickly as is reasonably possible.

Children’s Privacy

This site is written for adult readers and is not directed at children under 13. Information is not knowingly collected from children under 13. A parent or guardian who believes a child has provided information here should make contact so the information can be removed.

Changes to This Policy

This Privacy Policy may be updated as the site, the tools it uses, or the relevant laws change. The “Last updated” date at the top of the page will reflect the most recent revision. Continued use of the site after a change means acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact

Questions, requests, or concerns about this Privacy Policy can be sent to press@elleekay.com.

Effective 29 May 2026 · elleekay.com