Kay Eldredge Salter (née Eldredge) is an American journalist, playwright, and writer who became closely associated with James Salter in the mid‑1970s. She and Salter began a long partnership after his first marriage ended, eventually having a son together, Theo Salter, in 1985, and later marrying in Paris in 1998.

Kay has a background in journalism and playwrighting, and she collaborated with James Salter on at least one book project (Life Is Meals: A Food Lover’s Book of Days), reflecting shared interests in writing, culture, and everyday life. She has also written plays such as Yr. Obedient Servant and Someone, and has appeared in interviews and literary pieces about Salter’s work and life.

She supported and contributed to Salter’s literary circle and public presence until his death in 2015, and remains part of his legacy in contemporary American letters.