Shebug: Dissecting the Gold Digger
An interview with the author ~ Leslie Hummel
Leslie says: “You'll pick up a tip or two - guaranteed - inspiring enough to get you off the sofa and back into the swing of things with a whole new swagger” And you'll thank me later!
Hi Leslie, I loved reading 'Shebug: Dissecting the Gold Digger' and had a good giggle throughout. Tell us exactly what a Shebug is:
Hi Yvonne It’s a term I coined to describe the often glamorous but fully toxic, fully armed selfish schemer. Comb through ANY book since the beginning of time and you’ll find the pages coughing up countless specimens. The Shebug’s hazardous nature is broken down into two highly combustive components: 50% woman and 50% insect. This hybrid makes a lethal combination and is the most predatory of our species. Like bugs, they come in all shapes and sizes, all colours and textures and ages. And are near impossible to extinguish!
How did the idea first come to you for the book series?
It came to me when my mother’s best friend found out that the charming Southern Belle to whom she had rented her beautiful house in the San Francisco Bay Area ended up being a real life ‘black widow’. Sandra Bridewell, it seems, has slithered her way out of Texas after leaving a trail of blood and unpaid bills in hopes of finding a new rich husband to milk dry. When she caught scent of the authorities closing in on her, not only did the killer Shebug leave the place a tip nor pay the rent, she left many a man with little in their bank accounts. I chose to write about fictional characters plotting and planning in choice watering holes across the globe.
Do you think men are as aware as women that these Shebugs are on the prowl?
Some see right through them, but not all wealthy men use their heads. 'Shebug: Dissecting the Gold Digger' was designed to enlighten and entertain- not to frighten. Just because the nasty breed survives ice ages, does not mean they are sitting ducks. It’s been suggested that the guidebook be included in every Oscar Night winner’s goodie bag. I couldn’t agree more!
Can you give us an example of a Shebug and what she did to capture her bait?
Wallis Simpson…a fine example. Do you actually believe Bessie Wallace Warfield wasted her precious time thinking about her flaws? NO! She might have looked like a looked like a mean bony nanny but could perform more bedroom tricks than the Cirque de Soleil? This historic specimen falls under the category of FRENEMY. She’d promise to her best friend, Lady Furness, to take very good care of her lover boy, Edward Prince of Wales, whilst the heiress took off on another cruise. Did the double divorcee colonist fulfill her best friend’s request or what? Well Lady Furness certainly couldn’t have accused her best friend for breaking her promise.
In your book, you explain how the term 'Shebug' does not only apply to gold diggers. Who are these other Shebugs?
She's the self-appointed neighbourhood Queen Bee, the smiling politician on her way up the ladder of prestige via the service stairs. Since so many of us work, I dedicated a chapter to Shebugs I refer to as 'Corporate Creepers'. I've dissected the power-hungry female boss-from-hell into recognisable pieces so one is not caught unaware! I've also exposed her unsuspecting Achilles Heels - whether she storms into the boardroom in polished pumps or sizzling stilettos. This type is out for Numero Uno only. She's the one who has no qualms about passing off your brilliant ideas as her own without so much as blushing. Once she is done using you to her advantage, she looks forward to spitting you out. And preferably in public!
Another type laid bare is the Diva Shebug. The more you learn about her, the better equipped you will be to deal with her kind. This glitterbug takes up as much oxygen as a whale in a matchbox and will resort to tantrums to quickly flood the stage with crocodile tears to ensure her name is on the marquee. Mind you, the rare Diva Shebugs who possess amazing talent can be forgiven. But the remaining 98% 'wannabe' Diva Shebugs will hiss, lie and push you into a trap door before they let anybody escort them to the nearest stage door.
Why should everyone own a copy of this one-of-a-kind spicy exposé?
Who doesn't dream of being privy to a Shebug's most ingenious guises? Who doesn't secretly wonder what tactics and hidden agendas these troublemakers think up? Name one person who wouldn't peak into their fully loaded arsenal of seduction? Whether your company is on the verge on an I.P.O, or maybe you've just been nominated for an Emmy Award or have simply been stung by a Shebug one time too many, this is the guide for you. It rates as the equivalent of a can of hard-to-get industrial pesticide - minus the the harmful effects on the environment, of course.
Reviews for Shebug: Dissecting the Gold Digger
‘If this book had been written by a man, he would have been hounded out of town – but this Leslie is a woman and we can only assume that every sharp, delicious word is terrifyingly true.’
David Abbott, Author of ‘The Upright Piano Player’
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‘Any woman who even entertains the idea of stealing another woman’s husband, boyfriend or lover should be very, very frightened right now.’
Nina DeSesa, Author of “Seducing the Boys’ Club” and the Chairman of McCann Erickson
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‘What every man needs to avoid is getting stung; and every woman wants to reach the next rung.’
Robert Eringer, author of Lo Mein, is a journalist turned fiction writer
