Privacy policy
This policy explains what happens to personal information when you visit elenameetstheauthor.com. The site is run by Elena Bowes, who is responsible for it. You can contact her at elena@elenabowes.com.
The short version
This site has no accounts, no forms, no comments and no analytics. The main site doesn't set cookies or track you. The search boxes work entirely inside your browser, so nothing you type in them is sent anywhere.
The one exception is the short listening pages under elenameetstheauthor.com/listen, which people reach from Elena's Facebook and Instagram adverts. Those pages can use the Meta Pixel, but only if you say yes. More on that below.
Hosting
The site is hosted by Cloudflare. Like any web host, Cloudflare handles some technical information when you visit, such as your IP address, your browser type and the pages you request, so that it can deliver the pages and protect the site from attacks and abuse. Elena doesn't use this information to identify you. Cloudflare's own privacy policy explains how it handles this data: cloudflare.com/privacypolicy.
The legal basis for this is legitimate interests: keeping a public website running safely.
Fonts, images and video
All fonts, images and videos are stored on this site. Nothing loads from other companies while you browse, so visiting a page doesn't share your details with Google, YouTube or anyone else.
Meta Pixel on the listening pages
On the /listen pages, Elena uses the Meta Pixel, a tool from Meta Platforms Ireland Ltd, the company behind Facebook and Instagram. It only loads if you click "Accept" on the cookie message. If you click "No thanks", or don't choose, it never loads.
If you accept, Meta receives information such as your IP address, browser details, the page you visited, whether you arrived from one of Elena's adverts, and whether you clicked through to listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. Elena uses this only to see which adverts work and to show them to people likely to enjoy the podcast. She sees totals and reports, not who you are. Meta may link this to your Facebook or Instagram account under its own privacy policy: facebook.com/privacy/policy.
The legal basis is your consent. You can change your mind at any time with the "Cookie settings" link at the bottom of any /listen page. Your choice is remembered in your own browser so you aren't asked every time.
Counting visits on the listening pages
Separately from Meta, the /listen pages keep a simple count of visits and of which buttons are clicked, such as Spotify or Apple Podcasts, so Elena can see how many people go on to listen. This uses no cookies and stores nothing on your device. Each count records only the date, the page, the button, the site you came from (for example Instagram, or the name of an advert campaign in the link), and your country, which Cloudflare works out from your connection. Your IP address isn't kept and the counts can't be used to identify you.
Links to other sites
The site links to places like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Substack, Instagram, Bookshop.org and the publications Elena has written for. When you follow a link you leave this site, and that site's own privacy policy applies.
The Behind the Stories newsletter
The newsletter runs on Substack, so signing up happens on Substack's website and Substack's privacy policy applies. As the publisher, Elena can see the email addresses of people who subscribe. She uses them only to send the newsletter and doesn't sell or share them. You can unsubscribe at any time from any email.
Bookshop.org links
Some book links are Bookshop.org affiliate links. If you click one, Bookshop.org may use a cookie on its own site to record that you came from here, so that the sale can be credited. That happens on Bookshop.org, not on this site.
If you email Elena
If you get in touch by email, Elena will use your name and address to reply, and keep the conversation only as long as it's needed.
Your rights
Under UK and EU data protection law you have the right to ask what personal information is held about you, to have it corrected or deleted, and to object to how it's used. Email elena@elenabowes.com and Elena will respond within a month, as the law requires. If you're unhappy with the response, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk, or to the data protection authority where you live.
Children
This site is written for adults and isn't aimed at children.
Changes
If anything about how the site works changes, this page will be updated. Last updated 26 October 2026.