Billie Dean Letts (née Gipson; May 30, 1938 – August 2, 2014) was an American novelist and educator. She was a professor at Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Billie Letts authored several novels, deeply rooted in the American Southwest, that captured the hearts of readers around the world with their compelling narratives and relatable characters.

Billie was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and dedicated much of her life to academia and literature. In addition to her teaching role, she was an accomplished writer whose works resonate with themes of compassion and resilience. She was married to Dennis Letts until his death in 2008 and is the mother of playwright and actor Tracy Letts and jazz musician and composer Shawn Letts.