The Real Housewives of Atlanta’s self-proclaimed “H.B.I.C.” (head b– in charge) says she’s not friends with any of the other women on the show. Instead, she calls Kim Zolciak, Sheree Whitfield, Lisa Wu Hartwell and Kandi Burruss “associates,” something she says they’re lucky to be. “Some people don’t even get to be my associate, so they’re in a very good position,” she said in Los Angeles at a recent signing of her book, Never Make the Same Mistake Twice: Lessons on Love and Life Learned the Hard Way. Leakes spoke with PEOPLE about her her goal to have a talk show, why all press is good press and what she thinks about the song “Tardy for the Party.”

What’s your relationship with Kim and Sheree like these days?
We’re just associates. I feel we have a business relationship. However, Sheree and I have known each other the longest and we’ve found a way to respect one another. And Kim and I just haven’t found that yet. And if Kim and I weren’t on the show together, we probably would never talk. But we’re on the show, so we have to talk and we have to be cordial, so we’re cordial. But I’m not friends with any of these girls. They’re my associates, and I don’t think that the word “associate” is a bad word. Some people don’t even get to be my associate, so they’re in a very good position.

So you’re not friends with anyone in the cast?
Down the road with some time, Lisa and I could possibly be friends. I don’t really know Kandi at all but I won’t close the door on that. I’m just saying I don’t know her because she’s new to the show. We didn’t get a chance to really get to know each other. She came into our relationship. I feel like I’m the HBIC [head b-- in charge] if you know what that is.

If you could give your advice to the other women, what would it be?
What you have to do is build and brand and you have to take advantage of everything that you have in front of you. It’s a blessing and a curse. The curse is that people are digging in your business and these reporters are writing things that are not true. But it’s a blessing because you get to do things like … have a book put out across the country.

What else would you like to accomplish?
My long term goal is to one day have my own talk show or maybe even a radio show … Since I’ve been here in California, I’ve had TV shows that are talking to me but it has to be the right thing because I live in Georgia. That is so far for me to move my husband and kids, so it really has to be worth my while. I need a big, nice, fat check.

How do you deal with the “curse” or rumors that are spread about you?
I love when they talk about me. I get real weird when they ain’t saying nothing about me. I say, “They didn’t say anything about me this week? I got to step my game up.” The more they talk honey, that really puts you out there.

Are you singing on Kim’s song “Tardy For The Party?”
Well it’s Kim [with] Kandi’s help. Kandi changed it from country to dance and so Kandi has a lot of beats going on in the back so you can’t really hear her … It’s not about the vocal — it’s more about the beat. When you are singing country, it is more about the voice. I can’t wait for you guys to see that episode. I think you guys are going to feel for me. “Tardy For The Party” was my song. Now she’s doing “Tardy For The Party,” and I’m not on it. I don’t care if I’m not on it.

Who’s fashion show was better, Lisa’s or Sheree’s?
I never talk about these girls. I’m just going to say Gucci can’t talk about Louis, honey.

Would you buy anything from their clothing lines?
I would. I bought a T-shirt from Lisa’s [collection]