Out Loud! The Metro Library Network Author Series will present three of the most famous names in fiction this June. The collaborative program of the Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha, and Marion Public Libraries will present Ann Patchett, Gillian Flynn, and Dennis Lehane in free events at the Hotel at Kirkwood Center.

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.

Flynn, author of the runaway bestseller Gone Girl, will appear on Friday, June 14 at 7 p.m. She is also the author of Sharp Objects and Dark Places, two acclaimed thrillers. But Gone Girl, which topped the bestseller list in 2012 and has remained in the top 10, elevated her career to a new level. Reese Witherspoon is producing the movie adaptation of the novel, which is a taut he-said-she-said tale of a marriage gone horribly awry.

Lehane, one of the biggest names in the mystery genre, will close out the series on Friday, June 28 at 7 p.m. Lehane is known for his series featuring Boston private investigators Patrick Kenzie and Angela Genaro, as well as for standalone novels including Shutter Island, Mystic River, and Gone Baby Gone, each of which has been made into a major motion picture. His most recent bestseller is 2012’s Live by Night.

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.

More information about the Out Loud! Author Series is available at www.metrolibrarynetwork.org.

Out Loud! The Metro Library Network Author Series is supported by the Giacoletto Foundation with media support from the Gazette and event book sales provided by Barnes & Noble Booksellers.