Dr. Shelley Sella will discuss her book, “Beyond Limits, Stories of Third-Trimester Abortion Care,” at Orinda Books from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 9.
Owner of Orinda Books, Pat Rudebusch, believes books are important to communities.
“Books that tell stories of real people and the difficult choices they have to make, while not always popular, help broaden our understanding of social issues,” she said.
Which is why she’s hosting book author Dr. Shelley Sella from the Bay Area, to do a reading from her book titled, “Beyond Limits, Stories Of Third-Trimester Abortion Care,” on Aug. 9 from 3:30 – 5 p.m.
The book, which officially released June 3, 2022, and took roughly three years to complete, is a compassionate perspective on late-term abortion that challenges preconceived notions of who gets abortions and why.
Dr. Diana Greene Foster, author of “The Turnaway Study,” will introduce Sella at the reading.
Foster also wrote the following review of Sella’s book.
“Beyond Limits is moving, personal, insightful and powerfully written,” wrote Foster. “This book helps us to see people who seek abortions with clarity and compassion, as people in the real world, rather than as the objects of an abstract moral or political debate.”
Sella, who lives in the Bay Area, was born in Israel and raised in New York City, and is a board-certified OB-GYN. She’s also the first woman to openly provide third trimester abortion care in the U.S.
“Over my years of practice, I listened to many patients tell me their stories,” she said. “I often thought that if people could only hear these stories, they would have a different view of this most misunderstood and stigmatized segment of abortion care.”
Rudebusch said she discovered Sella and her book through a friend.
“She had recently heard Dr. Sella at a local bookstore and was impressed with the quality of writing and the stories of women making – what I can only imagine – are extremely difficult and heart-breaking decisions,” said Rudebusch. “I was struck by these very human stories. As women’s reproductive health care is becoming more and more politicized, we’re losing sight of the fact that these are very personal medical decisions that don’t fit into the narrative advanced by many politicians.”
Kathy Kramer, who is co-coordinator of the book reading with Rudebusch, said a woman by the name of Dana will be at the event as well.
“Introducing Diana and Shelley will be Dana, a scientist and a mom, based here in the Bay Area. Dana is also a former third trimester patient who was forced to leave California to access abortion care,” said Kramer.
Coincidently, but not planned, the timing of Sella’s book release is germane.
“Since the Dobbs decision which overturned Roe [June 24, 2022], more people are forced to leave their states to access abortion care, delaying care. The need for abortion care later in pregnancy is greater than ever. It is important that we recognize this and offer our support.”
Sella hopes attendees and readers of her book will gain empathy.
“I hope that people will have a better understanding of those seeking abortion care later in pregnancy, who are as deserving as anyone else of competent and compassionate care,” she said.
Rudebusch is hoping for that same enlightenment.
“In these hyper-divisive times, I believe in the power of stories to break down walls and illuminate our shared humanity,” she said.
Available to purchase ($27.95) at Orinda Books, Sella’s book is distributed by a major publishing house and readily available on Amazon and other retail stores.
Orinda Books is located at 276 Village Square, Orinda. Visit Dr. Shelley Sella’s website at shelleysella.com/ and register for the event at orindabooks.com/events.