Susan Kay (born in 1953 in Manchester) is a writer.

She is most known for her book, Phantom, which expands upon the history of Erik, the hideous, brilliant character fromGaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera, in an episodic format of seven chapters from different characters' points of view - first Erik's mother, immediately revolted by her own son; then Erik as a boy being exhibited as a circus freak; then Giovanni, a character of Kay's creation, who takes him in; then Nadir, known in Leroux's novel as the Persian, who is greatly expanded upon and gives an account of Erik in the bloodiest days of his life; then Erik, describing how he settled into his role as Phantom of the Opera; then a back-and-forth narrative between Erik and Christine Daae, whom he loves obsessively; and lastly, Raoul de Chagny, Erik's rival, giving the denouement.

Her first novel was Legacy, about the life of Queen Elizabeth I  and won a Georgette Heyer Historical Novel Prize and aBetty Trask Awared in 1985.

In 1991 her book Phantom won Romantic Novel of the year award

She worked as a primary school teacher until leaving to bring up a family, and now lives with her husband and two children in Cheshire.

I chose to honor her here for her fine work with Phantom. I hold her in the highest esteem for writing this book and giving the phantom community so much more about Erik's life. It's hard for any author to "live up" to so many expectations especially from phantom phans, but regardless of whether all phans agree on each part of this book, we can all agree that it's a fantastic if not phantastic look into the deeper level of who Erik was. 

Mrs. Kay thank you for taking the time and interest over 18 years ago on Erik. We thank you for a piece of Phantom History that will forever be to some, "THE" book on Erik our Phantom-  I think you said it best at the end of your book..  "There is a curious, timeless fascination to this legendary character and I have no doubt that the process of reinterpretation will continue over decades to come."