Laurence Yep (born Yè Xiángtiān, Chinese: 葉祥添) is a prolific Chinese-American writer of fantasy novels, short stories, plays, and articles for which he has won several awards.

Born in San Francisco, California, Yep grew up in a multicultural area, and felt pulled in different directions by his American and Chinese backgrounds. This cultural issue turns up in a lot of his fiction. His notable non-Star Trek novels include the Golden Mountain Chronicles, Dragon mysteries and the Chinatown Mysteries.

He earned his BA at the University of California and a PhD in English from the State University of New York in 1975. He teaches writing and Asian American Studies in California.

He is married to Joanne Ryder, and they now live in Pacific Grove, California.