Reality TV regular and Skinnygirl entrepreneur Bethenny Frankel may have sold her famous Skinny cocktail creation, but she hasn't put the trim title behind her yet. In fact, she's giving it a new twist with her latest effort.
Frankel, a three-time bestselling author with nonfiction books "A Place of Yes," "Naturally Thin" and "The Skinnygirl Dish," has written her first novel, "Skinnydipping," and during a Tuesday morning TODAY visit, she promised it'll offer her fans something they need -- a change of pace.
"I've been on reality television for 8 years," Frankel said of her work on "The Real Housewives of New York City," "Bethenny Getting Married?" and "Bethenny Ever After." "I've been on a lot of my reality -- my first three books were prescriptive in how to lose weight and how to get the most out of life. 'Skinnydipping' is just fun, refreshing.... It's just a palate cleanser."
‘Skinnydipping’: A look inside Bethenny Frankel's novel
But it isn't a career change for the small screen celebrity. Despite adding fiction to the mix, Frankel "keeps it real" and semi-autobiographical in her book, writing about the familiar life of a reality TV star. As for her own future, she plans to continue to juggle her businesses, keep in close contact with her fans, and of course, get more face-time on TV.
"I have incredible fans," she said. "I have a great relationship with them, whether it's on Twitter, emails or letters, I know exactly who they are. We are in a relationship. It's why I wanted to do a talk show. I have a talk show (coming up) on Fox this summer. It's for them, so we can have a conversation, rather than just watch me living my life on television."
And Frankel knows just what she wants that conversation to focus on.
"I think it is my message to say, 'Yeah, we're not perfect. We're flawed. I'm flawed but I'm having fun.... We have some not-so-good moments, but all in all, you can really get to where you want to get to. And we'll do it together,'" she explained.
But only some of Frankel's loyal followers will be able to carry on that part of the TV "relationship." That new talk show opens in limited markets.
"It's in Minneapolis, Dallas, Phoenix, L.A., New York and Philadelphia," she said. "No one take offense. We'll be everywhere next year."
"Skinnydipping" hits bookstores Tuesday.
See more from Frankel Monday nights at 10 p.m. ET on "Bethenny Ever After" on Bravo.
Will you read Frankel's first fiction effort? Tell us on our Facebook page.
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