West Virginia University journalism professor John Temple will launch the Pittsburgh release of his latest book at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 10, at Joseph-Beth Booksellers in the South Side Works.
Deadhouse: Life in a Coroners Officeis a nonfiction book chronicling the daily intrigues of a team of death investigators from the Allegheny County Coroners Office.
Its all true stuff,Temple said.And its one of the most interesting places Ive ever been. Every day brought a new mystery.
Pittsburghs newest bookstore in the South Side Works, Joseph-Beth Booksellers is located at 2705 E. Carson St.
Temple will also discuss and sign the book on the following dates: Saturday, April 30, 1 p.m., Barnes&Noble, Monroeville Mall, Monroeville, Pa.; Friday, May 6, 7 p.m., Barnes&Noble at University Town Centre, Morgantown, W.Va.; Saturday, May 7, 2 p.m., Barnes&Noble, Waterworks Mall, Aspinwall, Pa.; Saturday, May 14, 2 p.m., Borders Books&Music, 1775 N. Highland Road, Bethel Park, Pa.; and Friday, May 20, 8 p.m., Barnes&Noble, 1099 E. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg, Pa.
Temple spent a year observing the coroners at work,tagging alongwith both veteran and novice employees as they investigated death scenes, undertook autopsies and convened the inquests that determine whether a homicide suspect will be held for trial. In addition to delving into what makes death investigators tick, the book also chronicles the evolution of forensics.
These people are good at what they do,Temple said.Its the kind of job that most people could never handle, but the coroners found a way to deal with it, in spite of all of the bad parts.
Prior to teaching at WVU , Temple taught and studied creative nonfiction writing at the University of Pittsburgh, where he earned a masters of fine arts degree. Temple worked in the newspaper business for six years. He was the health/education reporter for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, a general assignment reporter for the News&Record in Greensboro, N.C., and a government and politics reporter for the Tampa Tribune.
Temple is also the co-editor ofCancer Stories: Lessons in Love, Loss and Hope,a student-produced book about a group of cancer patients. Ordering information for Temples books can be found atwww.johntemplebooks.comorwww.amazon.com.