CEDAR RAPIDS  Ann Patchett, Gillian Flynn and Dennis Lehane will be in Eastern Iowa in June for the Out Loud! The Metro Library Network Author Series, a collaborative program of the Cedar Rapids, Hiawatha and Marion Public Libraries. All events are free and will be held at the Hotel at Kirkwood Center.

Patchett, an alumna of the Iowa Writers Workshop, will open the series on June 7 at 7 p.m. Patchett is the author of five novels including State of Wonder,Run and Bel Canto. She is also the author of two non-fiction books, including the memoir Truth & Beauty.

Flynn, author of the runaway best-seller Gone Girl, will appear on 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 best-seller list in 2012 and has remained in the top 10, elevated her career to a new level.

Lehane, one of the biggest names in the mystery genre, will close out the series on 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 stand-alone novels including Shutter Island,Mystic River and Gone Baby Gone, each of which has been made into a major motion picture.

No tickets are required, preregistration is requested, though. To register, visit http://bit.ly/OutLoud and navigate to the event dates. Alternately, 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.