Editing Danielle Steel

{{short description|American romance novel writer  (born 1947)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox writer <!-- for more information see [[:Template:Infobox writer/doc]] -->
| name             = Danielle Steel
| image            =
| imagesize        = 
| caption          = Steel in 2013
| pseudonym        = 
| birth_name       = Danielle Fernandes Dominique Schuelein-Steel
| birth_date       = {{Birth date and age|1947|8|14|mf=y}}
| birth_place      = New York City, U.S.
| occupation       = Novelist
| period           = 1973–present
| genre            = [[romance novel|Romance]]<br />Contemporary
| alma_mater       = [[New York University]]
| spouses          = {{ubl
 | {{marriage|Claude-Eric Lazard|1965|1974|end=divorced}}
 | {{marriage|Danny Zugelder|1975|1978|end=divorced}}
 | {{marriage|William George Toth|1978|1981|end=divorced}}
 | {{marriage|John Traina|1981|1998|end=divorced}}
 | {{marriage|[[Thomas Perkins (businessman)|Thomas Perkins]]|1998|2002|end=divorced}}
 | {{marriage|Ian Matthews|2015|2022|end=divorced}}
 }}
| children         = 9 (7 biological, including [[Nick Traina]], and 2 ex-stepsons [[Trevor Traina]] and [[Todd Traina]])<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nichols |first1=Michelle |title=Author Danielle Steel had childhood dreams of becoming a nun |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/people-books-steel-dc-idUKN2145543420080222 |access-date=22 September 2023 |work=Reuters |date=22 February 2008 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Glamour">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.glamour.com/story/danielle-steel-books-interview/ |title= How the Hell Has Danielle Steel Managed to Write 179 Books?|magazine=Glamour |access-date=May 9, 2019 }}</ref>
| signature        = Danielle steel signature.svg
| website          = {{URL|http://www.daniellesteel.com}}
}}

'''Danielle Fernandes Dominique Schuelein-Steel''' (born August 14, 1947) is an American writer, best known for her romance novels. She is the bestselling living author and one of the [[List of best-selling fiction authors|best-selling fiction authors of all time]], with over 800&nbsp;million copies sold.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Danielle Steel |url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/danielle-steel/ |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref> As of 2021, she has written [[Danielle Steel bibliography|190 books]], including over 140<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=After Quarantining in Paris For Over a Year, Author Danielle Steel Dreams of Dressing Up Again|url=https://www.instyle.com/fashion/danielle-steels-wardrobe-home-tour|access-date=2021-09-23|language=en-us}}</ref> novels.

Based in California for most of her career, Steel has produced several books a year, often juggling up to five projects at once. All of her novels have been bestsellers, including those issued in hardback, despite "a resounding lack of critical acclaim" (''[[Publishers Weekly]]'').<ref name=":0" /> Her books often involve rich families facing a crisis, threatened by dark elements such as prison, fraud, blackmail, and suicide. Steel has also published children's fiction and poetry, as well as creating a foundation that funds mental illness-related organizations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nicktrainafoundation.com/ |title=Home |website=nicktrainafoundation.com}}</ref> Her books have been translated into 43 languages,<ref name=DS.com /> with 22 adapted for television, including two that have received [[Golden Globe]] nominations.

==Early life==
Steel was born Danielle Fernandes Dominique Schuelein-Steel in New York City to a German father and a Portuguese mother. Her father, John Schuelein-Steel, was a [[German-Jewish]] immigrant and a descendant of owners of [[Löwenbräu]] beer. Her mother, Norma da Camara Stone dos Reis, was the daughter of a Portuguese diplomat.<ref name="angel2"/><ref name="google">{{cite book|title=A to Z of American Women Writers|author=Kort, C.|date=2007|publisher=Facts On File, Incorporated|isbn=9781438107936|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QyvXLgnTNpIC|page=311|access-date=October 6, 2014}}</ref><ref name="transworld"/><ref name="People">{{cite news|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20113010,00.html|title=Danielle Steel|last=Chin|first=Paula|date=June 29, 1992|newspaper=[[People Magazine]]|access-date=January 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110070512/http://people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20113010,00.html|archive-date=January 10, 2011}}</ref>  She spent much of her childhood in [[France]],<ref name="holfer">{{cite magazine | last = Holfer | first = Robert| title = Danielle Steel | magazine = Variety | date = January 5, 2005 | url =https://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117956712.html?nav=goldstandard | access-date = April 19, 2007}}</ref> where from an early age she was included in her parents' dinner parties, giving her an opportunity to observe the habits and lives of the wealthy and famous.<ref name="transworld">{{cite web | title = Danielle Steel | publisher = Books At Transworld | url = http://www.booksattransworld.co.uk/daniellesteel/home.htm | access-date = April 19, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071226031228/http://www.booksattransworld.co.uk/daniellesteel/home.htm | archive-date = December 26, 2007 }}</ref> Her parents divorced when she was eight, and she was raised primarily by her father, rarely seeing her mother.<ref name="angel2">{{cite news |last=Angel |first=Karen |date=March 19, 2006 |title=Lonely Heart |newspaper=[[The Age]] |location=Melbourne |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2006/03/18/1142582568777.html |access-date=April 19, 2007}}</ref>

Steel started writing stories as a child, and by her late teens had begun writing poetry.<ref name="readersclub">{{cite web | last = L. | first = Rosanne | title = Meet the Author: Danielle Steel | publisher = Reader's Club | date = July 2004 | url = http://www.readersclub.org/meetAuthor.asp?author=14 | access-date = April 19, 2007 | archive-date = June 22, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070622234142/http://www.readersclub.org/meetAuthor.asp?author=14 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Raised Catholic, she thought of becoming a [[nun]] during her early years.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/people-books-steel-dc-idUSN2145543420080222 | work=Reuters | title=Author Danielle Steel had childhood dreams of becoming a nun | date=February 22, 2008}}</ref> A 1965 graduate of the ''[[Lycée Français de New York]]'',<ref name="lyceealumni">{{cite web| title =Alumni and Prof.'s on the Internet| publisher =Alumni Association of the Lycée Français de New York, Inc.| url =http://www.lfnyalumni.org/en/news/no.21/53| access-date =April 19, 2007| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20070928010656/http://www.lfnyalumni.org/en/news/no.21/53| archive-date =September 28, 2007}}</ref> she studied literature design and fashion design,<ref name="readersclub"/> first at [[Parsons School of Design]] and then at [[New York University]].<ref name="meetthewriters">{{cite web | title = Meet the Writers: Danielle Steel | publisher = Barnes and Noble | url =http://www.barnesandnoble.com/writers/writer.asp?cid=748011 | access-date = April 19, 2007}}</ref>

==Career==
===1965–1971: Career beginnings===
While still attending New York University, Steel began writing, completing her first manuscript at 19.<ref name="readersclub"/> Steel worked for a public-relations agency in New York called Supergirls. A client, ''[[Ladies' Home Journal]]'' editor John Mack Carter, encouraged her to focus on writing,<ref name="People" /> having been impressed with her freelance articles. He suggested she write a book, which she did. She later moved to San Francisco and worked as a copywriter for [[Grey Global Group|Grey Advertising]].

===1972–1981: First novels and growing success===
Her first novel, ''[[Going Home (Steel novel)|Going Home]]'', was published in 1973. The novel contained many of the themes that her writing would become well known for, including a focus on family issues and human relationships. Her relationship with her second husband influenced ''[[Passion's Promise]]'' and ''[[Now and Forever (Danielle Steel novel)|Now and Forever]]'', the two novels that launched her career.<ref name="People" /> With the success of her fourth book, ''The Promise'', she became a participant in [[San Francisco]] high society.<ref name="People" />

===1981–1996: Fame and expansion to new genres===
Beginning in 1991, Steel had become a near-permanent fixture on ''The New York Times'' hardcover and paperback bestsellers lists. In 1999, she was listed in the ''[[Guinness Book of World Records]]'' for having a book on the ''New York Times Bestseller List'' for the most consecutive weeks of any author—456 consecutive weeks at that time.<ref name="segretto" /> Steel is a prolific author, often releasing several books per year.<ref name="segretto" /> Each book takes 2½ years to complete,<ref name="readersclub" /> so Steel has developed an ability to juggle up to five projects at once, researching one book while outlining another, then writing and editing additional books.<ref name="segretto" /> Since her first book was published, every one of her novels has hit bestseller lists in paperback, and each one released in hardback has also been a hardback bestseller.<ref name="angel2"/>

During this time, Steel also expanded to non-fiction work. ''Having a Baby'' was published in 1984 and featured a chapter by Steel about suffering through [[miscarriage]].<ref name="having a baby">{{cite book | title = Having a Baby (Hardcover) | year = 1984| isbn = 0385293348| last1 = Bert| first1 = Diana| publisher = Delacorte}}</ref> The same year she published a book of poetry, ''Love: Poems.''<ref name="bookreporter"/> She also ventured into children's fiction, penning a series of 57 illustrated books for young readers. These books, known as the "Max and Martha" series, aim to help children face real-life problems: new baby, new school, loss of loved one, etc. In addition, Steel has authored the "Freddie" series. These four books address other real-life situations: first night away from home, trip to the doctor, etc.<ref name="bookreporter">{{cite web|title=Danielle Steel |publisher=Book Reporter |url=http://www.bookreporter.com/authors/au-steel-danielle.aspm |access-date=April 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401133717/http://www.bookreporter.com/authors/au-steel-danielle.aspm |archive-date=April 1, 2012 }}</ref>

In 1993, Steel sued writer Lorenzo Bene, who had intended to disclose in his book that her son Nick was adopted by her then-current husband John Traina, despite the fact that adoption records are sealed in [[California]].<ref name="angel2"/> A San Francisco judge made a highly unusual ruling allowing the seal on Nick's adoption to be overturned, although he was still a minor. This order was confirmed by a California Appellate Judge, who ruled that because Steel was famous, her son's adoption did not have the same privacy right,<ref name="angel2"/> and the book was allowed to be published.<ref name="williams">{{cite news | last = Williams | first = Lance| title = Novelist Danielle Steel's son dies | newspaper = San Francisco Chronicle | date = September 21, 1997 | url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/e/a/1997/09/21/METRO9637.dtl&hw=danielle+steel&sn=020&sc=473 | access-date = April 19, 2007}}</ref>

===1997–present: Continued success and awards===
After years of near-constant writing, in 2003 Steel opened an art gallery in San Francisco, Steel Gallery, which showed contemporary work and exhibited the paintings and sculptures of emerging artists. The gallery closed in 2007.<ref name="baker">{{cite news | last = Baker | first = Kenneth| title = Danielle Steel to open gallery for lesser-knowns | newspaper = San Francisco Chronicle | date = September 30, 2003 | url = http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/09/30/DD276604.DTL | access-date = April 19, 2007}}</ref> She continues to curate shows a few times a year for the Andrea Schwartz Gallery in San Francisco.

In 2002, Steel was decorated by the French government as an ''Officier'' of the ''[[Ordre des Arts et des Lettres]]'', for her contributions to world culture.

She has additionally received:
* Induction into the [[California Hall of Fame]], December 2009.
* "Distinguished Service in Mental Health Award" (first time awarded to a non-physician) from New York Presbyterian Hospital, Department of Psychiatry and Columbia University Medical School and Cornell Medical College, May 2009.
* "Outstanding Achievement Award" for work with adolescents from Larkin Street Youth Services in San Francisco, May 2003.
* "Service to Youth Award" for improving the lives of adolescents and children with mental accessibility issues from the University of San Francisco Catholic Youth Organization and St. Mary's Medical Center, November 1999.
* "Outstanding Achievement Award" in Mental Health from the California Psychiatric Association
* "Distinguished Service Award" from the American Psychiatric Association

In 2006 Steel reached an agreement with [[Elizabeth Arden]] to launch a new perfume, Danielle by Danielle Steel.

In 2014, she wrote an article for [[SFGate]] writing about her concern that San Francisco was losing its heart.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Steel |first=Danielle |date=January 16, 2014 |orig-date=January 16, 2024 |title=Danielle Steel: Is S.F. losing its heart? |url=https://www.sfgate.com/opinion/openforum/article/danielle-steel-is-s-f-losing-its-heart-5150554.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230722174135/https://www.sfgate.com/opinion/openforum/article/danielle-steel-is-s-f-losing-its-heart-5150554.php |archive-date=July 22, 2023 |access-date=August 11, 2024 |website=The San Francisco Gate |language=English}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
[[File:Danielle Steel's longtime residence in San Francisco.jpg|thumb|Danielle Steel's longtime residence in San Francisco, [[Spreckels Mansion (San Francisco)|Spreckels Mansion]] was built in c.1913 as the mansion of sugar tycoon [[Adolph B. Spreckels]] and his wife [[Alma de Bretteville Spreckels|Alma Spreckels]].]]Steel married French banker Claude-Éric [[Lazard]] in 1965 at age 18 and gave birth to their daughter Beatrix.<ref name="carroll">{{cite news |last=Carroll |first=Jerry |date=October 22, 1995 |title=Danielle Steel's Plot Thickens |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1995/10/22/PK41426.DTL&hw=danielle+steel&sn=001&sc=1000 |access-date=April 19, 2007}}</ref> Steel and Lazard separated in 1972. While still married to Lazard, Steel met Danny Zugelder while interviewing an inmate in a prison near [[Lompoc, California]], where Zugelder was also incarcerated. He moved in with Steel when he was paroled in June 1973, but returned to prison in early 1974 on robbery and [[rape]] charges. After receiving her divorce from Lazard in 1975, she married Zugelder in the prison [[Canteen (place)|canteen]]. During their relationship, Steel suffered multiple miscarriages. She divorced Zugelder in 1978.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-01-10 |title=Danielle Steel: People.com |url=http://people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20113010,00.html |access-date=2022-04-03 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110070512/http://people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20113010,00.html |archive-date=10 January 2011 }}</ref>

Steel married her third husband, William George Toth, in 1978, while pregnant with their son, [[Nick Traina|Nick]]. They divorced in March 1981.

Steel married for the fourth time in 1981, to John Traina, a shipping and cruise magnate and later vintner and art collector who was the ex-husband of [[Dede Wilsey]].<ref name="kennedy">{{cite magazine |last=Kennedy |first=Dana |date=December 20, 1996 |title=Steel Magnolia |url=https://ew.com/article/1996/12/20/danielle-steel-shares-her-story/ |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=April 19, 2007 |archive-date=June 2, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070602063003/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,295532,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Together they had five children, Samantha, Victoria, Vanessa, Maxx, and Zara.<ref name="carroll" /><ref name="kennedy" /><ref>{{cite web |title=The 10 best dressed |url=http://www.matchesfashion.com/womens/the-style-report/top-10-dressed |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130609075214/http://www.matchesfashion.com/womens/the-style-report/top-10-dressed |archive-date=June 9, 2013 |access-date=May 31, 2013 |publisher=Matches Fashion}}</ref> Traina adopted Steel's son Nick and gave him his family name and Steel also became stepmother of Traina's sons [[Trevor Traina|Trevor]] and [[Todd Traina|Todd]]. Determined to spend as much time as possible with her children, Steel often wrote at night, making do with only four hours of sleep.<ref name="angel2"/> Steel and Traina divorced in 1995.<ref>{{Cite web |last=WRITER |first=JERRY CARROLL, CHRONICLE STAFF |date=1995-10-22 |title=Danielle Steel's Plot Thickens / San Francisco social circles buzzing as romance author, fourth husband split |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Danielle-Steel-s-Plot-Thickens-San-Francisco-3021386.php |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=SFGATE |language=en-US}}</ref>

Her fear of flying created many challenges in the early 1980s; she went through an eight-week course based at the San Francisco airport to overcome her fear.<ref name="daniellesteel.net">{{cite web |last1=Steel |first1=Danielle |date=February 10, 2009 |title=Fear of Flying |url=http://www.daniellesteel.net/fear-of-flying/ |access-date=January 23, 2018 |website=daniellesteel.net}}</ref>

Steel married for a fifth time, to Silicon Valley financier [[Thomas Perkins (businessman)|Thomas James Perkins]], but the marriage ended after four years in 2002.<ref name="steger">{{cite news |last=Steger |first=Pat |date=August 11, 1999 |title=Steel, Perkins Separate After 17-Month Marriage |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1999/08/11/DD102192.DTL&hw=danielle+steel&sn=076&sc=248 |access-date=April 19, 2007}}</ref> Steel has said that her novel ''The Klone and I'' was inspired by a private joke between herself and Perkins.<ref name="donnally">{{cite news |last=Donnally |first=Trish |date=February 26, 1998 |title=A New Chapter in Steel Romance |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1998/02/26/DD44826.DTL&hw=danielle+steel&sn=011&sc=603 |access-date=April 19, 2007}}</ref> In 2006, Perkins dedicated his novel ''Sex and the Single Zillionaire'' to Steel.

Steel's longtime residence was in [[San Francisco]],<ref name="baker2">{{cite news |last=Baker |first=Kenneth |date=September 30, 2003 |title=Danielle Steel to open gallery for lesser-knowns |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2003/09/30/DD276604.DTL |access-date=April 19, 2007}}</ref> but she now spends most of her time at a second home in [[Paris]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Kaufman |first=David |date=May 7, 2011 |title=Danielle Steel |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704436004576299613789670544 |quote=For much of her career, Danielle Steel was best known as a couture-clad San Francisco writer and society gal with a handful of husbands and a soccer-team's worth of kids. But the author—who has sold nearly 600&nbsp;million books—now lives mostly in Paris, happily husband-less...'San Francisco is a great city to raise children, but I was very happy to leave it. There's no style, nobody dresses up—you can't be chic there. It's all shorts and hiking boots and Tevas—it's as if everyone is dressed to go on a camping trip. I don't think people really care how they look there; and I look like a mess when I'm there, too.'}}</ref>  Her 55-room San Francisco home, [[Spreckels Mansion (San Francisco)|Spreckels Mansion]], was built in c.1912 as the mansion of sugar tycoon [[Adolph B. Spreckels]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Tour San Francisco: Pacific Heights |url=http://www.inetours.com/Pages/SFNbrhds/Pacific_Heights.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071025145356/http://www.inetours.com/Pages/SFNbrhds/Pacific_Heights.html |archive-date=October 25, 2007 |access-date=January 10, 2008 |url-status=usurped |publisher=iNetours.com}}</ref>

Despite her public image and varied pursuits, Steel is known to be shy<ref name="baker2" /> and because of that and her desire to protect her children from the tabloids,<ref name="angel2"/> she rarely grants interviews or makes public appearances.<ref name="carroll19972">{{cite news |last=Carroll |first=Jerry |date=January 7, 1997 |title=Danielle Steel Says Biography Wrecked Her Marriage |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/1997/01/07/DD31213.DTL&hw=danielle+steel&sn=006&sc=649 |access-date=April 19, 2007}}</ref>

=== Nick Traina and Yo Angel Foundations ===
Steel's son, [[Nick Traina]], died by [[suicide]] in 1997. Traina was the lead singer of San Francisco punk bands [[Link 80]] and Knowledge. To honor his memory, Steel wrote the nonfiction book ''His Bright Light'', about Nick's life and death. Proceeds of the book, which reached ''The New York Times'' Non-Fiction Bestseller List,<ref name="bookreporter" /> were used to found the Nick Traina Foundation, which Steel runs, to fund organizations dedicated to treating mental accessibility issues.<ref name="bigelow">{{cite news |last=Bigelow |first=Catherine |date=May 9, 2004 |title=Swells |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2004/05/09/LVG3A6FSL21.DTL&hw=danielle+steel&sn=014&sc=542 |access-date=April 19, 2007}}</ref> To gain more recognition for children's mental health, Steel has lobbied for legislation in Washington, and previously held a fundraiser every two years (known as The Star Ball) in San Francisco.<ref name="zinko">{{cite news |last=Zinko |first=Carolyne |date=May 8, 2002 |title=Steel's gala draws lots of star power |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2002/05/08/DD139093.DTL&hw=danielle+steel&sn=003&sc=733 |access-date=April 19, 2007}}</ref> In 2002, she founded Yo Angel Foundation to assist the homeless.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Danielle Steel « Danielle Steel |url=https://daniellesteel.com/about-danielle/ |access-date=2022-04-03 |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Writing style==
Steel's novels, often described as "formulaic,"<ref name="toxic">{{cite web|last=Melnick |first=Sheri |title=Toxic Bachelors |publisher=RomanticTimes Magazine |year=2005 |url=http://www.romantictimes.com/books_review.php?book=27700 |access-date=April 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017000934/http://romantictimes.com/books_review.php?book=27700 |archive-date=October 17, 2007 }}</ref> tend to involve the characters in a crisis that threatens their relationship. The novels sometimes explore the world of the rich and famous<ref name="toxic"/> and frequently deal with serious life issues like illness, death, loss, family crises, and relationships. There are claims that her popular story lines are based on the events of her life.<ref name=":0">{{cite web | title = The Lives of Danielle Steel: The Unauthorized Biography of America's #1 Best-Selling Author |url =http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-312-11257-8|website=Publishersweekly.com|date =October 1994|access-date=November 13, 2017}}</ref> Despite a reputation among critics for writing "fluff", Steel often delves into the less savory aspects of human nature, including [[incest]], suicide, [[divorce]], war, and even [[the Holocaust]].<ref name="segretto">{{cite web | last = Segretto | first = Mike| title = Meet the Writers: Danielle Steel | publisher = Barnes and Noble | year = 2005 | url =http://www.barnesandnoble.com/writers/writerdetails.asp?z=y&cid=748011#bio | access-date = April 19, 2007}}</ref> As time has progressed, Steel's writing has evolved. Her later heroines tend to be stronger and more authoritative, who, if they do not receive the level of respect and attention they desire from a man, move on to a new life.<ref name="carroll" /> In recent years Steel has also been willing to take more risks with her plots. ''Ransom'' focuses more on suspense than romance, and follows three sets of seemingly unconnected characters as their lives begin to intersect.<ref name="ransom">{{cite web|last=Melnick |first=Sheri |title=Ransom |publisher=RomanticTimes Magazine |year=2004 |url=http://www.romantictimes.com/books_review.php?book=22584 |access-date=April 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017000929/http://romantictimes.com/books_review.php?book=22584 |archive-date=October 17, 2007 }}</ref> ''Toxic Bachelors'' departs from her usual style by telling the story through the eyes of the three title characters, men who are relationship phobic and ultimately discover their true loves.<ref name="toxic" />

To avoid comparisons to her previous novels, Steel does not write sequels.<ref name="readersclub" /> Although many of her earliest books were released with initial print runs of 1 million copies, by 2004 her publisher had decreased the number of books initially printed to 650,000 due to the decline in book purchasing. However, her fan base was still extremely strong at that time, with Steel's books selling out atop charts worldwide.<ref name="maryles61">{{cite magazine | last = Maryles | first = Daisy| title = Steel at 61 | magazine = Publishers Weekly | date = July 12, 2004 | url = http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA435220.html?q=danielle+steel | access-date = April 19, 2007}} {{cite web|url=http://www.sitiincontri.it |title=incontri}}</ref>

=== Adaptations ===
Twenty-two of her books have been adapted for television,<ref name="fleming"/> including two that have received [[Golden Globe]] nominations. One is ''Jewels'', the story of the survival of a woman and her children in [[World War II]] Europe, and the family's eventual rebirth as one of the greatest jewelry houses in Europe.<ref name="segretto"/>  [[Columbia Pictures]] was the first movie studio to make an offer for one of her novels, purchasing the rights to ''The Ghost'' in 1998.<ref name="fleming">{{cite magazine | last = Fleming | first = Michael| title = Col helps Steel break into pic biz | magazine = Variety | date = February 3, 1998 | url =https://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117467327.html?query=danielle+steel | access-date = April 19, 2007}}</ref> Steel also reached an agreement with New Line Home Entertainment in 2005 to sell the film rights to 30 of her novels for DVDs.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.today.com/popculture/danielle-steel-signs-film-deal-30-books-wbna10003131 | title=Danielle Steel signs film deal for 30 books | date=November 11, 2005 }}</ref>

===Writing process===
Steel spends two to three years on each book, juggling multiple projects at once. According to Steel, once she has an idea for a story, her first step is to make notes, which are mostly about the characters. She told ''[[The New York Times]]'' in 2018: "I make notes for a while before I start work on the outline. The notes are usually more about the characters. I need to know the characters really well before I start — who they are, how they think, how they feel, what has happened to them, how they grew up."<ref name=jordan>{{cite web |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/02/books/review/danielle-steel-fall-from-grace-best-seller.html|title= Danielle Steel: 'I Know an Idea Is Right for Me When It Just Clicks'|last= Jordan|first=Tina |date=February 2, 2018 |via=nytimes.com |work=The New York Times |access-date= September 29, 2018}}</ref> In a 2019 interview with ''[[The Guardian]]'', she reported often spending 20- to 30-hour periods on her typewriter, gaining her attention and criticism.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2017/09/danielle-steels-desk-is-unlike-anything-youve-ever-seen |title=Danielle Steel's Desk Is Unlike Anything You've Ever Seen |date=October 2017 |website=vanityfair.com |publisher=Vanity Fair |access-date=September 29, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/shortcuts/2019/may/13/danielle-steel-works-22-hour-days-is-it-possible|title=Is it possible to work 22-hour days? Danielle Steel says it is the secret of her success|first=Elle|last=Hunt|newspaper=The Guardian |date=May 13, 2019|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref>

Steel has written all of her novels on Olympia SG1 standard typewriters. She has two that she primarily writes on:  one at her home in San Francisco and another at her home in Paris.<ref name="krug">{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/danielle-steel-my-books-are-more-than-a-beach-read/2015/07/02/8b9a011c-fa4f-11e4-9ef4-1bb7ce3b3fb7_story.html?noredirect=on|title= Danielle Steel: 'My books are more than a beach read'|last= Krug|first=Nora |date= July 2, 2015|newspaper= The Washington Post|access-date= September 30, 2018}}</ref> Her typewriter at her home in San Francisco has been in her possession since she bought it while working on her first book. According to Steel, she bought it second hand for $20.

==Bibliography==
{{main|Danielle Steel bibliography}}
Danielle Steel has written more than 185 books, including over 141 novels.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.glamour.com/story/danielle-steel-books-interview|title=How the Hell Has Danielle Steel Managed to Write 179 Books?|website=Glamour|date=May 9, 2019|language=en|access-date=September 22, 2019}}</ref> Her books have been translated into 43 languages and can be found in 69 countries across the globe.<ref name=DS.com>{{cite web |url=http://daniellesteel.com/about-danielle/ |title=About Danielle Steel |work=Official website of Danielle Steel |access-date=August 12, 2017 |quote=She is published in 69 countries and 43 languages. }}</ref>

Her works consist of novels, non-fiction, picture books, and two series of children's books: the Max & Martha series and the Freddie series.

==Filmography==
# ''[[The Promise (1979 film)|The Promise]]'' (1979, theatrical film)
# ''[[Now and Forever (1983 film)|Now and Forever]]'' (1983, theatrical film)
# ''[[Crossings (miniseries)|Crossings]]'' (1986, miniseries)
# ''[[Kaleidoscope (1990 film)|Kaleidoscope]]'' (1990, television film)
# ''[[Fine Things (film)|Fine Things]]'' (1990, television film)
# ''[[Changes (1991 film)|Changes]]'' (1991, television film)
# ''[[Danielle Steel's 'Palomino'|Palomino]]'' (1991, television film)
# ''[[Daddy (1991 film)|Daddy]]'' (1991, television film)
# ''[[Jewels (miniseries)|Jewels]]'' (1992, miniseries)
# ''[[Secrets (1992 American film)|Secrets]]'' (1992, television film)
# ''Message from Nam'' (1993, television film)
# ''[[Danielle Steel's Star|Star]]'' (1993, television film)
# ''[[Heartbeat (1993 film)|Heartbeat]]'' (1993, television film)
# ''[[Family Album (miniseries)|Family Album]]'' (1994, miniseries)
# ''A Perfect Stranger'' (1994, television film)
# ''[[Once in a Lifetime (1994 film)|Once in a Lifetime]]'' (1994, television film)
# ''[[Mixed Blessings (film)|Mixed Blessings]]'' (1995, television film)
# ''Zoya'' (1995, television film)
# ''[[Vanished (1995 film)|Vanished]]'' (1995, television film)
# ''[[The Ring (1996 film)|The Ring]]'' (1996, television film)
# ''Full Circle'' (1996, television film)
# ''Remembrance'' (1996, television film)
# ''[[No Greater Love (1996 film)|No Greater Love]]'' (1996, television film)
# ''[[Safe Harbour (film)|Safe Harbour]]'' (2007, television film)

==See also==
* [[List of bestselling novels in the United States]]
* [[List of bestselling fiction authors]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Official|www.daniellesteel.com}}
* [http://www.daniellesteel.net Personal website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927233518/http://www.iblist.com/author726.htm Danielle Steel at Internet Book List] (archived 27 September 2007)
* [https://archive.today/20130113034231/http://ps.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/51/10/1324 An October 2000 review of ''His Bright Light'' by Dr. Jeffrey L. Geller on an American Psychiatric Association website] (archived 13 January 2013)
* {{IMDb name|824403|Danielle Steel}}
* [https://archive.today/20031011235841/http://www.steelgalleryinc.com/ Steel Gallery] (archived 11 October 2003)
* [http://www.nicktrainafoundation.com/ The Nick Traina Foundation]

{{Danielle Steel}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Steel, Danielle}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century American novelists]]
[[Category:21st-century American novelists]]
[[Category:American children's writers]]
[[Category:American romantic fiction novelists]]
[[Category:American women novelists]]
[[Category:American people of Portuguese descent]]
[[Category:Tisch School of the Arts alumni]]
[[Category:Writers from Manhattan]]
[[Category:Novelists from New York City]]
[[Category:Novelists from San Francisco]]
[[Category:American chick lit writers]]
[[Category:Lycée Français de New York alumni]]
[[Category:American people of German-Jewish descent]]
[[Category:Parsons School of Design alumni]]
[[Category:20th-century American women writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American women writers]]
[[Category:Lazard family]]