Smithsonian Institution's Celebration of Women's Heritage -- My Interview With Angela Shelton

Yesterday I had the great pleasure of meeting and interviewing Angela Shelton, a filmmaker, actress, screenwriter, model and a courageous woman who's a survivor of childhood incest and sexual abuse. The interview was the fourth in a five part series of events sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution, as part of Women's Heritage Month in March. The event included a screening of the film, followed by my interview with her, and a book signing.

Ironically, her film, Searching for Angela Shelton began as a kind of lark. When an HBO producer asked whether she'd be interested in doing a documentary, Shelton thought it might be fun to travel around the country interviewing women with her same name. Many miles later in a rented RV, she'd discovered that nearly 70 percent of the Angela Sheltons she met during her journey had experienced similar incidents of violence, rape or incest.

Her new book, Finding Angela Shelton, The True Story of One Woman's Triumph Over Sexual Abuse is a compelling read--a combination of warmth, humor and honesty.