Bethenny Frankel offers relationships advice April 13 at Atlanta History Center

The "Real Housewives of New York" star and Skinnygirl business mogul is in the midst of an acrimonious divorce and readily admits that she's had more failure than success in the love department. So her book, which came out Tuesday, addresses that issue head on in its title: "I Suck At Relationships So You Don't Have To." ($24.99, Simon & Schuster)

"Just because I haven't found the right person doesn't mean I don't have it in me," said Frankel earlier this week to me by phone in New York right after a "Today" show appearance. "It doesn't mean I don't have good advice to give. People can be married 30 years and have issues."

She's doing a book tour that stops Monday evening April 13 at the Atlanta History Center. You can buy $40 tickets here, which includes a copy of the book for her to sign.

Frankel said she's never had a problem getting guys. "A lot of it has to do with keeping the guy," she said. "It's also whether I'm choosing the right guy. Ultimately, it's do as I say, not as I've done."

Frankel covers a lot of territory over 300 pages, hitting 10 major themes, including understanding men, money, sex and trusting your gut vs. your heart and mind. The toughest chapter to write, she said, was titled "Master the Catch and Release."

She said the chapter is about what women need to do to reel in the guy and then keep him - if you want. "That was a difficult thing to communicate," she said.

She also includes the thoughts of her therapist Xavier Amador, who periodically inserts his own thoughts. He didn't always agree with Frankel, such as her assertion men are simpletons who primarily think about subjects such as sex, beer and sports. She was fine with that. "He will not tell me what I want to hear," she said. "I never saw what he wrote until the book went to print."

Of her eight books, which tackle subjects including cocktails, recipes and business, she said this was one of the easiest ones to write. "I don't remember having any kind of writer's block." Her best-selling books to date are her first "Naturally Thin" and advice book "The Place of Yes." "They're evergreens," she said. "They still sell."

She is currently dating but nobody seriously. And so far, most of the dates find the fact she has a book called "I Suck At Relationships So You Don't Have To" more endearing than off putting. "I think it's being funny and being honest," she said.

Frankel's syndicated talk show ended last year after just one season due to low ratings. She was more relieved than perturbed. "I was grateful for the opportunity but I didn't enjoy the experience," she said. "It didn't feel truthful." Then again, relationships were a common topic and inspired her latest book.

Frankel, with her talk show gone, returned Tuesday night to "The Real Housewives of New York" for its seventh season after leaving season three. Why go back?

"I was offered all sorts of shows like 'Shark Tank' and 'Dancing With the Stars,' " Frankel said. "I chose to go back because I wanted to go back. I missed the connection. I missed the forum to be free to be me. It's liberating and therapeutic."

Her biggest change, besides several different cast members, is her perspective on the petty arguments that tend to dominate these types of shows.

"The conflicts no longer seem so consequential," she said. "It's all about perspective."

And she has now concluded that "I'm a professional reality star. I accept that."

She has an understanding with the two members of "Real Housewives" who were there when she left the first time around: Ramona Singer and LuAnn de Lesseps. "We have mutual respect," she said. "There are always undercurrents, undertones. Being in the public eye makes people focus on the wrong things. I'm happy to be on the show with them. I'm happy they wanted me back. I'm really trying not to engage in negativity. Some conflict will happen. I don't want to hate them or have them hate me. We're grown women!

Of the other women, she expected to not like Carole Radziwill. "I didn't think she'd be my cup of tea but we became real friends. I respect most of the women. Some get on my nerves and vice versa. I'm not usually spending my time with seven women" - except for purposes of the show.

When I interviewed her in 2011, she was on a Miami beach with her daughter and the paparazzi were bothering her. At the time, she called them "vultures."

She now has more conciliatory feelings toward them. (It helps that she's in great shape. A few days ago, People magazine and other tabloids used pap shots of her rocking a bikini.)

"I've gotten more used to them," Frankel said. "They're a little more respectful when it comes to my daughter. They're doing their jobs... They're not particularly rude to me now."

I had time for a final question so I asked her about her favorite on "Real Housewives of Atlanta." "I like Claudia [Jordan.] She seems really smart. She's entertaining. I like Atlanta. They're really funny and totally out there!"

TV PREVIEW

"The Real Housewives of New York," 9 p.m. Tuesdays, Bravo

BOOK SIGNING AND TALK

Bethenny Frankel

$40

6:30 p.m., Monday, April 13

Atlanta History Center/Grand Overlook Ballroom

130 West Paces Ferry Road, NW

Atlanta