Book Excerpt: 'Crossing Over'

N E W   Y O R K , Aug. 27 -- Popular cable show Crossing Over with John Edward has captivated those who want to know more about the psychic world. On the show, which airs on the Science Fiction (SciFi) cable channel and goes into national syndication starting today, Edward delivers messages to his audience members that he says come from their deceased loved ones.

He has also written a book with the same title. Here is the prologue, and an excerpt from Chapter 9:

Unitel Studios, New York CityJune 14, 2000

I'm standing in shadows, waiting to walk out in front of a hundred people and explain that I'm about to connect some of them with their departed relatives. To your side means husbands, wives, brothers, sisters, above you parents, grandparents . . . appreciate the messages . . . just answer yes or no. . . .

I've given this litany a thousand times before, in living rooms and offices and Holiday Inns in states I can't even locate on a map. But this is different. This is like nothing I've ever done before. It's not something I've ever really aspired to. But here I am.

Across the dimly lit set, I see Doug Fogel watching me. He's the stage manager, a Martin Short-ish man with a twinkle in his eyes who's done Cats and The Lion King, Radio City (Music Hall) and the Metropolitan Opera. Now he's working on a TV show about a guy who talks to dead people.

He's in control of what's happening, unlike the person he's looking at, the person whose name is in the title of the show. I'm told that this studio was the original home of Big Bird, Bert, Ernie, and Oscar the Grouch. They shot Sesame Street right where I'm standing. And right before me, Chris Rock did his HBO show here. So I guess I fit right in. I like to think that this show is going to be educational. I won't break the news to the network just yet. I'm sure they think it's entertainment.

Doug hears the cue from the control room over his headset and begins counting me down with one hand. Five, four, three, two. . . . He points to the irregularly shaped white screen that plays the opening montage of the show. He looks at the audience, extends his arms, and begins clapping with a purpose, turning himself into a human APPLAUSE sign.