Ann Patchett, an alumna of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, will open this year’s series on Friday, June 7 at 7 p.m.

Patchett is the author of five novels including State of Wonder, Run, and Bel Canto, which won the PEN/Faulkner Award, the Orange Prize, the BookSense Book of the Year, and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. She is also the author of two nonfiction books, including the memoir Truth & Beauty, which recounts her friendship with fellow author Lucy Grealy. In 2012, she was named one of Time magazine’s “World’s 100 Most Influential People,” in part due to her highly publicized decision to open an independent bookstore—Parnassus Books—in Nashville, Tenn., bucking trends in the book business.

For more information about Ann Patchett visit her website www.annpatchett.com

While no tickets are required, series organizers are requesting preregistration for this year’s events. To register, visit http://bit.ly/OutLoud and navigate to the event dates. Alternately, patrons may contact any of the Metro Libraries or send an email to outloudauthorseries@hotmail.com.

All Out Loud! authors will take questions from the audience and sign books following their presentations.