Cara Black is the author of the Aimée Leduc mystery series.

Cara was originally inspired to write about Paris when she heard the real-life story of her friend’s mother, a hidden Jewish girl during the Occupation.

Cara talked about how the Marais has changed since she set one of her books there in the 80s.

Cara typically visits Paris once or twice a year; and she leads Aimée Leduc tours to the places featured in her books.

Asked about her goofiest experiences while researching her books, Cara talked about an impromptu exploration of the Paris sewers – right before dinner – and posing as a journalist for a well-known US newspaper, so that she could gain access to the Passy Reservoir.

Cara discussed her writing process, explaining that rather than outlining in detail a story, she takes more of a “by the seat of her pants” approach, beginning with the place the book will be set and going from there.

Cara’s latest book is not part of her Aimée Leduc series; rather, called Three Hours in Paris and out last April, it is a historical fiction mystery about the mere three hours that Hitler spent in Paris in June 1940, two weeks into the German Occupation.