A PEEK AT FAME PARIS GIVES BOOK BUYERS AUTOGRAPHS AND THRILLS.

Byline: Amy Raisin Darvish Staff Writer

STEVENSON RANCH - She made her entrance 20 minutes late, but when reality TV bombshell-turned-author Paris Hilton shimmied into Wal-Mart for a book signing Tuesday - all bronze legs and batting eyelashes - her hundreds of fans erupted in cheers.

``Paris, you're so hot!'' yelled one of at least 1,500 fans held behind rope lines at the Wal-Mart on The Old Road, where the hotel scion signed copies of her new book ``Confessions of an Heiress: A Tongue-in- Chic Peek Behind the Pose.''

Michael Swartzburg, 37, of Los Gatos in Northern California, drove 300 miles to Santa Clarita on Monday night and stayed at a local hotel so he could snag a prime spot in line. He arrived at the discount store at 5 a.m. Tuesday - wearing a tuxedo and bow tie.

``It's a special occasion and if you're going to meet someone who personifies fashion, you had better be somewhat fashionable yourself,'' Swartzburg said, about 45 minutes before the platinum blonde was to make her 6 p.m. entrance.

Third in a line that snaked around the interior of the massive store, Swartzburg's chance to have Hilton sign two copies of the book was brief - it lasted less than half a minute - but the spa salesman was still giddy with excitement minutes later.

``Those 20 seconds were possibly the best relationship I've ever had,'' he said. ``Short, but meaningful. She just has a Marilyn Monroe presence about her. This whole thing was well worth it.''

Hilton, 23, took her seat in front of a pink backdrop and pink and white balloons about 6:20 p.m., wearing a white, strapless mini dress and fuchsia, metallic pumps. Obliging the throng of press photographers, the star of the Fox reality TV hit ``The Simple Life'' briefly posed in front of her signing table while she clutched a copy of her book.

Elizabeth Lopez of Santa Paula and her friend, Larry Ullrich of Oxnard, earned their spot at the head of the line after camping in front of the Wal-Mart over night, sleeping on air mattresses and relying on an ice chest to keep their snacks cold.

About two dozen spots from the front of the line, Linet Azarian, 21, of Los Angeles, passed the time waiting for her idol by reading magazines filled with Hilton wearing various outfits and hair styles.

``I just love her, even before her show came out,'' said Azarian, who was wearing a Hello Kitty necklace similar to one she saw Hilton wearing in a magazine. ``She just has this silliness and carefree attitude. I hope I get time to talk to her.''

Fans were only permitted to submit copies of Hilton's book for autographs and each person was limited to two books.

Not everyone was able to get an autograph, but that didn't stop crowds from waiting to catch a glimpse of Hilton. Chelsea Newkirk, 12, waited behind a rope line hoping to at least admire Hilton from a distance.

``She seems like she's fun, someone you could talk to and be laid back with,'' Newkirk said. ``Plus, she's really pretty.''

Amy Raisin Darvish, [phone]

amy.raisin(at)dailynews.com

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Photo:

(color) Paris Hilton, with a copy of her book, waves to the crowd Tuesday at Wal-Mart in Stevenson Ranch.

David Crane/Staff Photographer