INSPIRATION FOR TV’S “MEDIUM”
∗ Born January 24, 1972 in Phoenix
∗ Attended North High School in Phoenix and Corona del Sol High School in Tempe
∗ Earned a political science degree at Arizona State University, and worked as a college intern in the Maricopa County district attorney’s office
∗ Claims she is “medium” who communicates with the dead; says she uses her abilities to bring closure to people who have lost loved ones, and helps law enforcement agencies solve crimes and select jurors
∗ Wrote Don’t Kiss Them Goodbye, a 2005 best-seller about her experiences as a medium, plus four similar books
∗ Served as a consultant on the TV series Medium (2005-11), whose premise is based on her life experiences; Patricia Arquette, who played Allison, won an Emmy Award for the role in 2005
∗ Provided the real-life story framework for the Medium series — with husband Joe, an aerospace engineer, and three daughters (however, Joe is still alive, unlike his TV character who died in a plane crash in the series’ final episode); the series is set in Phoenix, though she works for the D.A. in Mariposa County (not Maricopa County)
∗ Conducts seminars around the world describing her experiences and answering audience questions
∗ Lives in north Scottsdale
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