Bitches We Love to Hate

Susan Lucci, Karen Walker (aka Megan Mullally), Kathy Griffin, Betty White and Wendie Malick in Hot in Cleveland, and let's not forget Joan Collins...

There are woman who gain popularity by their bitchiness. They act horribly, selfishly, and seem to thrive on treating others like crapola, yet people love them. Their fans repeat their snappy quotes at parties and set them up as camp heroes.



Why am I listing females who wouldn't be considered sweet? Because along with hot men, I have been known to write about...well, bitches. They are among us. We've all met one or two...or ten. Now, don't get me wrong. Men are equally nasty, though 'bitch' is reserved for the female of the species...



Yet...there is a double standard for bitches in books. Or at least my books. I have to say, when I am once again called on the carpet for writing about a nasty woman, I laugh. It's precisely the plan. You see, if I make the woman who the man leaves, nice, think of the abuse I would suffer at the hands of the critics. "How could she write about a man leaving a woman so nice?" "Why did that man take that wonderful woman's boyfriend?"

You see the dilemma?

We can forgive a man for deserting a nasty woman. But if the same man left his sweet, caring one in a novel? Hugely unpopular idea.

So, in comes the wicked woman. Or if not wicked, perhaps not likable. Enter Trina, my new lead female character in My Best Friend's Boyfriend. Well, first of all she's based on a real person. My close friend. Yes, she's real. And with all her faults she is wonderful.

But Trina has to be annoying, she has to be the type of woman you can't feel sorry for in a novel. If you did, how angry would you be at the author for betraying her?

It's a sticky issue for an author. But I should think by now anyone who knows my novels can predict the bitch will show her ugly head. In my life, I have come across some very scary people. And the worst ones, while in the police and out of it, were women. Sorry to say it.

On a different note, I would also like to say, women have also been close friends, not-nasty, and staunch supporters of me and my career. Of course there are both nice and nasty men and woman. It's silly to even make a distinction.



What can I say? I do enjoy writing about my wily women, even though yes! You want to punch them! Slap them! Kick 'em in the butt! I love it. I have done my job.



Be safe out there.