Heather Stimmler-Hall is a journalist as well as the author of several guidebooks on Paris and the French Riviera. Her most recent is the award-winning book Naughty Paris, a guide on everything from where to get the best lingerie and shoes to the best hotels and spas. Chapters include “Art & Literature,” “Your French Film Fix,” and “Toys for Madame.” Heather even covers etiquette at libertine clubs. Kirsten Loop has taken gorgeous photographs for the book, and if you look closely, you’ll find two of  Stephen Clarke, author of  A Year in the Merde.  For an insider’s guide on the best of everything in the City of Light, visit Heather’s blog, secretsofparis.com.

What brought you to Paris?

I came to Paris for my Junior Year Abroad in 1995, then moved back permanently after finishing my final year of university in 1997. I actually didn’t mean to stay, but time flies!

What keeps you in Paris?

I originally stayed because I was married to an Englishman who worked here. But I’ve decided to stay indefinitely now because I love the lifestyle, the food, the beautiful city…my whole career is pretty much centered around Paris at this point, I don’t know where else I’d want to live!

What book changed your life?

Probably Nathalie Goldberg’s “Wild Mind”.

How did you decide to write a guidebook? What were some of the challenges you faced?

I’ve been writing guidebooks for other publishers since starting my freelance travel writing 8 years ago. I decided to do one on my own in order to keep editorial control and also because I think the subject appeals to such a targeted audience (women who love Paris) that I wouldn’t really need to do the mass-distribution through a traditional publisher to reach that audience. I also wanted to be able to hire other authors to do other cities with the same topic. It has been a challenge to open a publishing company in France, very expensive, too. But otherwise the challenge so far is to stay focused and productive when there’s no editor breathing down my neck.

Which books are on your nightstand?

Too many! “On Love” by Alain de Bottin, “Bury Me in Montana” by Joe White, “Great Book of Chocolate” by my friend David Lebovitz, one of Deepak Chopra’s books and a film script that an actor friend gave me to read (top secret!).

What book makes you laugh out loud?

“The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists” by Gideon Defoe. Hilarious!

What is the best advice you have ever received?

“Don’t expect to get rich doing this.”

What advice would you give to struggling writers?

“Don’t expect to get rich doing this.”  Just kidding. I would say that to make a living as a writer full time, that you have to remember you’re a business. Take off that “artist-writer” hat once in awhile and put on the “business owner” hat.

How does living in a foreign country affect your writing? What does it add to your writing?

I have no idea if living in Paris has changed my writing. I’ve been here my whole adult life so I have nothing to compare it to!

At what hour of the day does inspiration strike? (Or what time of the day do you feel the most productive?)

I wouldn’t say I’m ever inspired at a particular moment. I can’t afford the luxury of waiting for inspiration when I have deadlines! But in general I’m neither an early morning person nor a late night person when it comes to work. I try and get as much done as I can between 10am and 10pm.

What is your favorite Parisian cafe? Why?

Can you believe after all this time I don’t have one in particular that I prefer?! I actually don’t hang out in cafés on my own much because I’m so busy, so I only go when meeting someone else. Okay, maybe Ladurée, but that’s only because I can’t live more than a week without their macarons. But I usually get them to go. I really work too much!

What inspired you to pen Naughty Paris? What was the best part of writing the book? The most challenging?

“Naughty Paris: A Lady’s Guide to the Sexy City” was born out of demand. I had a lot of people asking me for the info, so I thought it would make a perfect guidebook. It was fun doing the research with my guinea pigs, er, friends (I could write a book about that alone!). It has been challenging to get the right balance of information that’s interesting, informative, and yet none too “heavy”. The book is supposed to be light and fun, but also useful! A challenge any guidebook poses, I suppose…
          Also, as a publisher, now I understand why it takes so long to get from the finished text to an actual printed book. AGES!!! I’m learning to be patient and not rush things. Living in France is good practice for that. 

What’s next?

Right now I’m working on the second edition of Naughty Paris and editing Naughty New York (written by a group of contributors from NYC), both due to come out in late 2010.