Last updated: September 21, 2026

This website at ellenmisciattellibernardini.com is operated from Italy by the author writing as Ellen Misciattelli Bernardini (“Ellen,” “we,” “us”). Ellen is the data controller for the personal data described in this policy. For privacy questions or requests, contact Ellen at privacy@ellenmisciattellibernardini.com or use the contact form.

Privacy Policy

Information we collect

• Newsletter information. When you sign up for updates, we collect the email address you provide, your name if you provide it, and information needed to record your subscription and consent. Kit may also process technical information associated with the sign-up, such as an IP address, time, browser, device, and form activity.
• Messages you send. If you use the contact form, we receive the name, email address, subject, message, and any other information you choose to submit. The contact form is provided through the Formidable Forms plugin and is configured not to save form entries in the website’s WordPress database. The submission is transmitted by email to Ellen’s Hostinger-hosted email account, where the resulting email is stored so that Ellen can review and respond to it.
• Technical and usage data. The website host may process information such as IP address, browser and device type, requested pages, date and time, referring page, and security events to deliver and protect the site.
• Cookie choices and advertising data. Complianz records your cookie preferences. If you consent to analytics or marketing cookies, Google and Meta may collect identifiers, IP address, browser or device information, page and ad interactions, and approximate location through their tags and similar technologies.

Purposes & legal bases

PURPOSE	GDPR LEGAL BASIS
Send occasional news and marketing about Ellen’s books	Your consent (Article 6(1)(a)). You may withdraw it at any time.
Receive and respond to a contact request submitted through Formidable Forms	Steps taken at your request before entering a contract where relevant (Article 6(1)(b)), and otherwise Ellen’s legitimate interest in responding to correspondence (Article 6(1)(f)).
Deliver, secure, and maintain the website and prevent abuse	Ellen’s legitimate interests in operating a secure and functional website (Article 6(1)(f)).
Measure site and advertising performance and show or retarget advertising for Ellen’s books through Google or Meta	Your consent (Article 6(1)(a)). These non-essential technologies remain blocked unless and until you consent.
Keep records required by law or establish, exercise, or defend legal claims	Compliance with a legal obligation (Article 6(1)(c)) or Ellen’s legitimate interests (Article 6(1)(f)), as applicable.

Email newsletter

The newsletter is managed through Kit, Inc. (Kit), a provider based in the United States that stores and processes subscriber information on Ellen’s behalf. Newsletter sign-up is voluntary and separate from the Formidable contact form. Submitting a contact inquiry does not authorize Ellen to send marketing newsletters unless you separately ask to receive them. Every newsletter includes an unsubscribe link, and you can withdraw consent at any time. Where enabled, a confirmation email may be used to verify your subscription.

Contact form

The contact form uses the Formidable Forms plugin installed on this website. It is configured not to retain submitted entries in the WordPress database. Instead, the website transmits the submission to Ellen’s email account hosted by Hostinger. Hostinger and the website server necessarily process the information to deliver the message, and the resulting email remains in Ellen’s mailbox until it is deleted. Ellen uses the information only to review and respond to the inquiry and for related correspondence or recordkeeping; it is not used to add you to newsletter marketing without separate consent.

Cookies and tracking

The site uses Complianz to manage cookie choices. Strictly necessary technologies may operate without consent where permitted because they are required to provide the site, maintain security, or remember your privacy choices. Optional analytics and advertising technologies are blocked unless and until you select the relevant category.

• Google Analytics and Google Ads. If you consent, Google tools may measure traffic, conversions, and advertising performance and may help show relevant advertising. Google may combine this information with other information in accordance with Google’s Privacy Policy.
• Meta Pixel. If you consent, the Meta Pixel may measure advertising results and help Ellen show or retarget advertising for her books on Facebook and Instagram. Meta processes information in accordance with Meta’s Privacy Policy.

You may accept, reject, or customize optional cookies through the site’s cookie banner and may later change or withdraw your choice using the Cookie Preferences control. Withdrawing consent does not affect processing that occurred before withdrawal. Browser settings can also block or delete cookies, although doing so may affect site functions.

Advertising placed directly on Amazon is handled on Amazon’s services. Following a link from this site takes you to Amazon, where Amazon’s own privacy and cookie terms apply. If an Amazon measurement tag or similar technology is later added to this site, this policy and the cookie settings will be updated before it is activated.

Some links from this site to Amazon are affiliate links containing Ellen’s Amazon Associates identification tag. This website does not use an Amazon Pixel or embedded Amazon advertising. Complianz loads Amazon’s consent-management technology to communicate the visitor’s marketing-consent status to Amazon. Unless the visitor accepts marketing cookies, the consent signal instructs Amazon not to enable advertising storage or user-data processing. When you choose to follow an Amazon affiliate link, you leave this website, and Amazon may process information such as your IP address, referring page, device or browser information, and activity on Amazon under Amazon’s own privacy and cookie terms.

For detailed information about the cookies and similar technologies used on this website, including their purposes and duration, please see our Cookie Policy.

Service providers and recipients

Ellen does not sell personal data. Data is disclosed only as needed to providers that help operate the site and communications, or where required by law:

• Kit, Inc. Newsletter subscriptions, newsletter consent records, and email delivery.
• Google LLC. Google Analytics and Google Ads process data only when the applicable cookie consent has been given.
• Meta Platforms Ireland Limited and related Meta companies. Advertising measurement and delivery only when the applicable cookie consent has been given.
• Hostinger International Ltd. Website and email hosting, contact-form transmission, website delivery, security, backups, and troubleshooting. Hostinger International Ltd. is established in Cyprus, and Ellen has selected website-hosting infrastructure located in the United States.
• Authorities or professional advisers. Only where disclosure is legally required or reasonably necessary to establish, exercise, or defend legal rights.

International data transfers

Because Ellen is established in Italy but uses Kit and U.S.-located hosting infrastructure, personal data may be transferred outside the European Economic Area. Kit states that it participates in the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework and also makes the European Commission’s Standard Contractual Clauses available in its Data Processing Addendum. Hostinger International Ltd. is established in Cyprus; for customer data transferred through its services to countries outside the EEA that do not have an adequacy decision, its Data Processing Addendum incorporates the applicable Standard Contractual Clauses. Other restricted transfers will use an applicable adequacy decision, Standard Contractual Clauses, or another safeguard permitted by Chapter V of the GDPR. You may contact Ellen for information about the safeguard applicable to a particular transfer.

Your choices and rights

Subject to applicable law, you may ask Ellen for access to, correction of, deletion of, or a copy of your personal data; ask to restrict its use; or object to processing based on legitimate interests. Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time. You may unsubscribe from newsletters through the link in every email and may change cookie consent through the site’s Cookie Preferences control.

To exercise a right, email privacy@ellenmisciattellibernardini.com or use the contact form. Ellen may need enough information to identify you and verify the request. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Italian Data Protection Authority (Garante per la protezione dei dati personali) or another competent supervisory authority.

Data retention

• Newsletter records: kept while you remain subscribed. After you unsubscribe, limited suppression and consent records may be retained as needed to respect your choice and demonstrate compliance.
• Contact messages: the Formidable Forms entry is not saved in the WordPress database. The email delivered to Ellen’s Hostinger mailbox is kept only as long as reasonably necessary to answer the inquiry, maintain appropriate correspondence records, or handle related legal matters. It is not used for newsletter marketing without separate consent.
• Cookie consent records: kept for the period configured in Complianz and renewed when legally required.
• Technical logs: retained by the host for the period reasonably necessary for security, troubleshooting, and website operation.
• Analytics and advertising data: retained according to the settings used for the relevant Google or Meta service and your consent choices.

Children

This site is intended for a general adult audience and is not directed to children under 16. Ellen does not knowingly collect personal information from children through the site.

Required information and automated decisions

Providing information through the newsletter or contact form is voluntary. Without an email address, Ellen cannot send a newsletter or respond by email. Ellen does not use personal data to make decisions based solely on automated processing that produce legal or similarly significant effects. With consent, Google and Meta may use identifiers and activity data to select or measure advertising.

Changes to this policy

This policy may be updated when the site’s practices or providers change. The date at the top shows the latest revision. Material changes affecting consent will be presented through an appropriate notice or renewed consent where required.

Acceptance

By using this website, you agree to these terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the site.

Content and copyright

All content on this site, including text, book excerpts, cover art, photographs, and the author’s name and brand, is owned by Ellen Misciattelli Bernardini or used with permission, and is protected by copyright and other laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, or use it for commercial purposes without written permission. You are welcome to link to the site and share short quotations with attribution.

Amazon Associates disclosure

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Certain links to Ellen’s book on Amazon are affiliate links. If you follow one of these links and make a qualifying purchase, Ellen may receive a commission from Amazon at no additional cost to you. Amazon, not Ellen, determines whether a purchase qualifies and handles the transaction.

External links

This site links to third-party websites, such as Amazon and Gli Amici di Charlie. Some Amazon links are compensated affiliate links as disclosed above. We are not responsible for the content, policies, or practices of third-party sites. Purchases made on Amazon or other retailers are governed by their own terms.

No warranties

The site is provided “as is,” without warranties of any kind. We do our best to keep it accurate and available but do not guarantee it will be error-free or uninterrupted.

Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Ellen Misciattelli Bernardini will not be liable for any damages arising from your use of, or inability to use, this website.

Changes and governing law

We may update these terms from time to time; the “Last updated” date above will change when we do. These terms are governed by the laws of Italy, without regard to conflict-of-law rules.