"It's always fascinated me that there's something beyond life and what exactly is that? Being a pathologist you are forced into the frontline of finding out how and why people died and so it became almost my passion in life to find the stories of the dead."
A visit to Palmerston North cemetery revealed the most amazing stories connected to the graves. A large number of tombstones of people between the ages of 24 and 54 are dated November 1918.
"Of course that was the Spanish flu. I looked that up and apparently they had 60 funerals in one week in November. They were all younger people."
Another thing that intrigues him is how much of life and death seems to be sheer chance, and how little we can influence it.
He cites the case of a survivor of a plane crash in the Ruahine Ranges who escaped with a broken toe, whereas the passenger in the next seat, 7A, was killed instantly with massive injuries.
"The difference was the time they arrived at Auckland airport and picked up their ticket. The first one there got 7A and the second one, 7B. If you'd arrived five minutes earlier you'd have got the other one. What are the chances of that? Life is full of that, it's just a fraction of difference and that always fascinates me too. It's quite humbling."
Cynric says he regards himself more as an historian than a writer, recounting what he saw, and heard people say; making notes. But the feedback goes beyond an appreciation of the facts, "Some people say, 'Oh I laughed so much, I loved the humour in your books'. Other people say, 'Oh that's quite dark and gritty'. I think it's probably both. I like to take a light-hearted view of life."
As he lifts the lid on his arcane occupation, Cynric Temple-Camp will provide fascinating insights into his job as a pathologist.
The Details
What: Reflections on Death: chance, observations and opinions
When: Sunday, October 10, 11.30am-12.30pm
Where: Whanganui Literary Festival. Concert Chamber, War Memorial Centre
Tickets: $15 door sales or bookings at Royal Wanganui Opera House