Discovering The Life And Legacy Of Danielle Steel: A Literary Icon

Danielle Steel is not just a name; she is a phenomenon in the world of literature. Known for her incredible storytelling and captivating characters, Steel has penned over 189 books that have sold more than 650 million copies worldwide! From romances to dramas, her works have touched the hearts of millions, making her one of the best-selling authors of all time.

Born on August 14, 1947, in New York City, Danielle has led a life full of experiences that have shaped her writing career. Her story is not just about success; it’s also about overcoming challenges, pursuing passions, and the profound impact of personal loss. In this article, we will delve into her remarkable journey, explore her literary contributions, and celebrate the legacy she has created.

As we explore the life of Danielle Steel, we will uncover fascinating details about her early years, her rise to fame, and the personal stories that inspire her work. Whether you are a long-time fan or new to her writing, there’s always something fresh to learn about this literary titan!

Table of Contents

• Who Is Danielle Steel?
• Early Life
• Early Career
• Books
• Music, Art, and Fashion
• Book Sales and Records
• Marriages
• Children
• Movies
• Foundations and Honors
• Homes

Who Is Danielle Steel?

Danielle Steel published her first novel, Going Home, in 1973. By the end of the decade, she found an audience receptive to her brand of romance and drama, with titles like The Promise, Kaleidoscope, Heartbeat, and Sisters going on to become best sellers. Steel has also penned a poetry book, several children's series, and song lyrics for an album.

Early Life

Danielle Fernandes Dominique Schuelein-Steel was born on August 14, 1947, in New York City. She was the only child of John Schulein-Steel, scion of the German Löwenbräu beer family, and Norma da Câmara Stone dos Reis, daughter of a Portuguese diplomat, who divorced when Danielle was eight years old.

Splitting her time between France and New York, Steel was exposed to the dramas of high society at an early age but otherwise weathered a largely lonely childhood. She threw herself into her books and developed a love for fashion, determining she would pursue that path for a career.

After graduating from New York’s Lycée Français academy at age 15, Steel attended the Parsons School of Design and NYU. However, she endured a series of health scares, including a tumor that required an ovary to be removed, and dropped out of college before graduating.

Early Career

Fluent in both English and French, Steel initially found work as a translator before joining a New York City advertising agency, Supergirls, in 1968. It was during this time that a client named John Mack Carter, then the editor of Ladies’ Home Journal, suggested that she try her hand as an author. Steel took his advice, though she went on to write copy for the Grey Advertising Agency in San Francisco in the early 1970s, as it would take several years until she could support herself by penning novels.

Books

Steel's first novel, Going Home, was published in 1973. Several follow-up manuscripts were rejected, but she was back in print with Passion's Promise (a.k.a. Golden Moments) in 1977, and with the rapid-fire sales of The Promise in 1978, her literary career was up and running.

Through popular works like A Perfect Stranger (1983), Kaleidoscope (1987), Zoya (1988), Heartbeat (1991), and The Gift (1994), Steel established a definitive style, her novels often centered around strong, glamorous women who overcome major obstacles en route to love and fulfillment. While at times dismissed by critics as "formulaic," the author continues to crack the best-seller lists through a prolific output that sees her finish six books per year; recent titles include The Apartment (2016), Past Perfect (2017), and Fall From Grace (2018).

Music, Art, and Fashion

With more than 100 books already under her belt, Steel teamed with a group of French composers to try her hand as a lyricist. Her 10-track Love Notes by Danielle Steel, released in November 2013, features songs in both English and French.

Steel ran a contemporary art gallery in San Francisco for four years and continues to seek new pieces for her homes. A devoted fashionista, she also regularly attends haute couture shows.

Book Sales and Records

According to her website, Steel has written more than 189 books, with her works published in 43 languages across 69 countries for a total of 650 million copies sold worldwide. Additionally, the Guinness Book of World Records gave her an entry for having at least one book on the New York Times best-seller list for 390 consecutive weeks.

Marriages

Steel has been married five times. Her first wedding, to wealthy French-American banker Claude-Eric Lazard, came when she was just 18; they were separated by the early 1970s and divorced in 1974.

Husband No. 2, Danny Zugelder, was in prison for robbery when she met him in 1972, and back behind bars when they married and divorced later in the decade. No. 3, Bill Toth, also had his troubles with the law, as he was unable to free himself from a longstanding addiction to heroin.

Children

Following her marriage to Claude-Eric Lazard, Steel had her first daughter, Beatrix, at age 19. Twelve years later, she had a son, Nick, with Bill Toth. John Traina adopted both children upon marrying Steel, and they went on to have kids Maxx, Trevor, Todd, Samantha, Victoria, Vanessa, and Zara together.

After battling bipolar disorder for much of his life, Steel's son, Nick, committed suicide in 1997, at age 19. Steel subsequently penned His Bright Light: The Story of Nick Traina (1998) and has called it her most personally meaningful book.

Movies

More than 20 of Steel's novels, including Crossings (1982), Once in a Lifetime (1983), No