Susan Hill, born on 5 February 1942, is an acclaimed English author renowned for her extensive contributions to both fiction and non-fiction literary landscapes. Her notable novels include The Woman in Black, which has seen numerous adaptations, The Mist in the Mirror, and I'm the King of the Castle. The latter earned her the Somerset Maugham Award in 1971. Additionally, Hill has been honored with the Whitbread Novel Award in 1972 for The Bird of Night, a novel that was also in the running for the Booker Prize.

Her exceptional services to literature have been recognized with prestigious accolades. She was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2012 Birthday Honours and elevated to Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2020 Birthday Honours.

Hill's journey into the literary world began in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, where she was born. Her early fascination with theatre and literature was nurtured at Scarborough Convent School. Her family moved to Coventry in 1958, a move that influenced her education and future aspirations. Hill attended a girls’ grammar school, Barr's Hill, alongside notable peers. Her academic pursuit continued with an English degree from King's College London. By then, she had already embarked on her writing career, having penned her first novel.