NeNe Leakes: Weighing In on Her New Book, Fame & Friends

Not only is NeNe Leakes the clear fan favorite from Bravo's 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta,' but she's taken her 15 minutes of fame and catapulted it into a book deal.

On Aug.11, Simon & Schuster will release Leakes' debut memoir, 'Never Make the Same Mistake Twice: Lessons on Love and Life Learned the Hard Way.'

Speaking exclusively to BV Newswire, this outspoken Atlanta social butterfly said some of the life lessons she learned during the filming of 'Housewives' will turn up in her book.

"I talk about my relationships with Sheree [Whitfield] and Kim [Zolciak] ," she says. "I truly thought me and Sheree were friends. I am a very good judge of character. I let this one get pass me. I thought we were cool."

"I had no idea that after all the years of knowing her, we would have a falling out to that level and on national television. It was like shame on me. ...What was I thinking?"

Another mistake Leakes says she will never make again – having a child out of wedlock. The mother of two sons, an 18-year-old Clark Atlanta University freshman, Brice, and 9-year-old Brentt, says she does not want any more children.

"I talk about being a single mom. I'm never gonna do this s**t again...have another child out of wedlock," she laughed. After having her second son with husband Gregg, to whom she has been married for 12 years, Leakes made sure he knew his fatherly responsibilities.

"I said, 'This is gonna be your baby, too,' and when he would wake up at night, I would be tappin' his a**. 'We have a baby. You are wakin' up, too.'"

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Real Deal On Real Housewives of Atlanta

Real Deal On 'Real Housewives of Atlanta'
It looks at though Bravo has another hit on their hand with their latest reality series, 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta.' With a 20 percent increase from its 'New York City' predecessor, the much-buzzed about "docu-drama" -- which follows the life and times of some of Atlanta area's rich and shameless has become a sensation of the blogosphere and the water cooler. BlackVoices.com invites you to take an inside look at the major players of the seven episode series that has become the latest guilty pleasure for millions of TV viewers.

Sheree Whitfield
Single mother of three, Sheree previously owned a popular clothing store, Bella Azul, in Atlanta. Now, she has closed shop on the store to focus on her first clothing line called "She by Sheree." In the show's pilot she declared that she expects her alimony to be seven figures and allow her to maintain or exceed the lifestyle she had when married to NFL player Bob Whitfield. Sheree maintains an entourage of personal assistants, publicists and hair stylists at all times.

Bob Whitfield
Shereé's soon to be ex-husband is former NFL offensive tackle Bob Whitfield. The two are currently in the midst of a three-year long divorce battle. In episode 2 of 'Housewives' we see Whitfield picking up one of the couple's three children, Tierra. Whitfield announced his NFL retirement in 2007.

Lisa Wu Hartwell
Lisa is the career woman of the group. In addition to owning her own real estate firm, Hartwell & Associates, she also has a jewelry line and baby clothing line. She's a mother of three and just married NFL player Ed Hartwell. Her ex-husband is R&B singer Keith Sweat.

Ed Hartwell
After four successful seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and two with the Atlanta Falcons, Ed Hartwell just recovered from an injury and has been working out with his wife Lisa to get back in shape to return to the NFL. Hartwell and Lisa have a one-year-old son, EJ together.

Keith Sweat
Lisa Wu Hartwell shares two sons, 13-year-old Jordan and ten-year-old Justin, with R&B singer and her ex-husband Keith Sweat. Lisa has been very vocal during her interviews over the past few weeks about how she was disappointed that Sweat refused to sign a waiver to allow their two sons to participate in the show's taping. Sweat has no regrets about his decision, and told Essence.com, "I do not want my children exploited in that way. It would be different if this was more of a family-oriented show on Nickelodeon or Disney."

Deshawn Snow
Lifting a finger around her home is not something that Deshawn Snow wants to worry about. After moving into her dream home in Alpharetta, Georgia, she attempts to hire a chef, governess, and full staff to maintain her palatial mansion. In addition to being the mother of three boys, Snow runs a non-profit, The DeShawn Snow Foundation, dedicated to improving self-esteem for teenage girls.

Eric Snow
Deshawn Snow and her husband NBA veteran Eric Snow were college sweethearts. Eric began his professional basketball career with the Milwaukee Bucks in 1995. He has since played for the Seattle SuperSonics, the Philadelphia 76ers and now is a guard for the Cleveland Cavaliers. Last year, he was named co-captain of the Cavaliers, a leadership position he shares with LeBron James.

Kim Zolciak
Divorcee Kim Zolciak is the lone white woman on the series. The mother of two girls, 11-year old Brielle and six-year-old Ariana, divorced from her ex-husband when she was pregnant with their youngest daughter. She is a stay-at-home mom and aspiring country singer. Kim is closest to Nene on the show. The two have known each other for years and are shopping buddies and all-around hang out partners. Kim spent $18,000 on her daughter Brielle's eleventh birthday on the second episode of 'Housewives.' Kim considers herself a classy lady and decides instead of changing her clothes in a gas station bathroom she would rather do it instead in the parking lot and protected by Nene and her stylist.

Big Papa
There have been lots of guesses of who Kim's Big Papa really is. He allowed her to drop sixty-eight thousand dollars on a Cadillac Escalade, so that she can drive the car off the lot. Some say Kim's boyfriend could be a married man and others think he may be private. What we do know is that Big Papa is a celebrity. He resides in Atlanta. Some of Kim's closest friends still do not know who he is and Kim hopes to marry him one day.

One story that 'Housewives' viewers were privy to during the first season of the hit reality show is Leakes' search to find her biological father. She candidly discussed how her relationship with who she believed was her biological father changed when she got news that she wasn't his baby girl.

"I thought I was a daddy's girl, and we found out after all these years, he was not my dad. That was devastating to the both of us, and since that DNA result has come out, he hasn't even talked to me, and I haven't had the strength to call him and talk to him."

She adds, "I understand that he is hurt, but still it is not my fault, and so this year on the show, I think I might have found my dad. We don't take a DNA test so that's why I say I think."

Leakes, who founded the Twisted Hearts Foundation, which brings awareness to domestic violence against women, caught a lot of heat when she appeared on 'The Wendy Williams Show' a few weeks back and said she was not friends with any of the housewives.

"I feel like taking nothing from the 'Housewives of Atlanta.' I like the girls, but we are truly associates. I have three really good friends. When I say friends, [I mean someone who] when I have to go to New York to do press or a talk show flies from Phoenix to keep my son for me. These are the girls who truly have my back."

For now, Leakes says she wants to remain "as humble as I can." She's proud that she still buys her own toiletries and groceries.

"I tried to go to the store by myself, and people stop me. I was in Target buying tampons, and somebody snapped a picture of me and said, 'She is buying tampons in Target. She must be really broke,' and I laughed so hard because I said dumb a**es, they don't sell tampons in Neimans. I gotta go to Walgreens or CVS. Do they sell tampons at Neimans and Saks and Jeffery's and Bergdorf? Are you kidding me?"

With the second season of 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta' premiering July 30, Leakes' charge is simple: "Bring the haters on...I'm gonna make them sick every chance I get."

And if her current success is evidence enough, there will certainly be more haters to come.

Celebrity Look Alikes Vol. 6

Ben Vereen:
Who would've thought that Ben Vereen was related to a crossover pop star who resembles him?

Usher:
Well, it appears that Mr. 'Trading Places' himself is the godson of the Tony Award-winning superstar. But their striking resemblance could suggest something more.

Ben Vereen/Usher:
From their Asian-looking eyes to that wide Colgate smile, it's quite evident that the two versatile entertainers look alike. And they are both exceptional under the bright lights of Broadway and on screen.

Jay-Z:
While standing outside in freezing weather during Barack Obama's historic presidential inauguration, rapper-mogul Jay-Z probably didn't think he would have a larger-than-life celebrity figure jockin' his swag.

Andre Leon Talley:
On the other hand, maybe Jay-Z was taking a few fashion cues from Vogue Editor-at-Large Andre Leon Talley, who is revered as the most influential black man in the fashion business.

Andre Leon Talley/Jay-Z:
Although their skin complexion is a bit off, one thing's for sure, PETA should be knocking on both of their doors if they keep at wearing these furry accessories.

The Dream:
R&B chart topper the Dream is often photographed with oversized shades and a scarf around his neck (even in the blazing temperatures of Hawaii!). Whenever the public is able to catch a glimpse of Christina Milian's latest beau without his frames, he resembles a well-known rap mogul. And, no, we're not talking about Russell Simmons either.

Damon Dash:
The one and only Damon Dash regularly adorned oversize sunglasses during his 'Big Pimpin' glory days with Jay-Z. Nowadays, you can catch the financially strapped Roc-A-Fella Records founder producing dramatic movies, battling negative media coverage and managing thuggish-ruggish rapper Jim Jones.

The Dream/Damon Dash:
Even if you don't agree with us, one thing's for sure: You'll never find these two without a hat.

Etta James:
Though many have emulated her vocal styling, there aren't too many people who can match Etta James' beauty. Luckily, we've found a potential candidate who may resemble the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer.