Danielle Steel

Author profile

born

in New York, New York, The United States

August 14, 1947

gender

female

website

http://www.randomhouse.com/features/steel/

twitter username

daniellesteel

genre

Drama, Romance, Fiction

About this author

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Since 1981, Ms. Steel has been a permanent fixture on the New York Times hardcover and paperback bestseller lists. In 1989, she was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for having at least one of her books on the Times bestseller list for 381 consecutive weeks. But Guinness was premature. The fact is that one or more of Ms. Steel's novels have been on the New York Times bestseller list for over 390 consecutive weeks.

Twenty-one of Ms. Steel's novels have been adapted for television, each earning high ratings and critical acclaim, including two Golden Globe nominations for JEWELS, a four-hour mini-series that starred Anthony Andrews.

In addition, Ms. Steel is the author of the "Max and Martha" series of books for young readers. They...more Since 1981, Ms. Steel has been a permanent fixture on the New York Times hardcover and paperback bestseller lists. In 1989, she was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for having at least one of her books on the Times bestseller list for 381 consecutive weeks. But Guinness was premature. The fact is that one or more of Ms. Steel's novels have been on the New York Times bestseller list for over 390 consecutive weeks.

Twenty-one of Ms. Steel's novels have been adapted for television, each earning high ratings and critical acclaim, including two Golden Globe nominations for JEWELS, a four-hour mini-series that starred Anthony Andrews.

In addition, Ms. Steel is the author of the "Max and Martha" series of books for young readers. They are ten illustrated storybooks written to comfort the young as they face problems, such as a new stepfather, new baby, new school, loss of a grandparent, and other crucial dilemmas in a child's life. She has also written the "Freddie" books, four of them, about real-life situations in children's lives, like a visit to the doctor and the first night away from home. Ms. Steel has also written nonfiction, HIS BRIGHT LIGHT, about the life and death of her son Nicholas Traina, released by Delacorte Press in September 1998 and immediately jumped to the New York Times Non-Fiction bestseller list and "Having a Baby." She has also written a book of poetry entitled LOVE: POEMS BY DANIELLE STEEL.

In 2002, Ms. Steel was decorated by the French government as an "Officier" of the distinguished Order of Arts and Letters, for her lifetime contribution to world culture. She was awarded the second highest rank of the Order.

Ms. Steel also has a passionate interest in emerging contemporary artists. She has had an art gallery for several years, and and continues to sponsor and organize free lance art shows and events to show the work of emerging and mid-career artists. She has a degree in design herself. In addition to her writing, Ms. Steel has varied philanthropic interests. She founded and runs two foundations, one named in honor of her late son, The Nick Traina Foundation, which funds organizations involved in mental illness and child abuse. The second was established to assist the homeless. She has won numerous awards for her personal work with mentally ill adolescents and children. Ms. Steel maintains a passionate interest in the welfare and well-being of children, particularly those in jeopardy. She has raised nine children of her own. And they continue to keep her busy, as she juggles writing and family. Her family is her first priority, despite her many interests.

From an education in New York and Europe to a professional background in public relations and advertising, and teaching, Ms. Steel moved on quickly to her literary career and has been hard at work writing ever since. She wrote her first book at nineteen. Often, she works on five books at a time — researching one storyline, writing another, and editing the third. Still, she often spends two to three years researching and developing a single project. In the heat of a first draft, it is not uncommon for her to spend eighteen to twenty hours a day glued to her 1946 Olympia manual typewriter.

Family, children, and young people are the central focus of her life, and her passion, which frequently shows in her writing. She deals with the themes that touch on the most pressing issues of real life, which makes her books universal, and touch so many people. She is fascinated by the pressing life situations that affect us all, how people handle them and are often transformed as a result. And her novels have explored subjects such as kidnapping, incest, mental illness, suicide, death, divorce, adoption, marriage, loss, cancer, war, among others. She also frequently writes about historical themes, shedding new light on familiar historical events with meticulously accurate research.

Despite her varied interests and activities, (less)

156 posts
Danielle Steel's Blog

Danielle Steel isn't a Goodreads Author (yet), but she does have a blog, so here are some recent posts imported from her feed.

I’m Late….I’m Late!!!….

Hi Everyone,

I owe you an apology for not posting my blog on Monday, and being late this week. That hasn’t happened very often, but I have been so swamped with work and projects that for once I just couldn’t catch up!!! I really am sorry!!!

Last weekend, I spent time with my children in two cities for Mother’s Day, and this week I had so much work to do that it was like a giant snowball gathering...

View more on Danielle Steel's website »

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Danielle Steel's Books

Average rating: 3.72 · 268,626 ratings · 12,756 reviews · 226 distinct works · Similar authors

	Sisters 3.75 of 5 stars 3.75 avg rating — 7,657 ratings — published 1989 — 34 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Gift 3.83 of 5 stars 3.83 avg rating — 6,988 ratings — published 1994 — 34 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Kaleidoscope 3.75 of 5 stars 3.75 avg rating — 6,559 ratings — published 1987 — 27 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Fine Things 3.81 of 5 stars 3.81 avg rating — 6,240 ratings — published 1987 — 28 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Zoya 3.85 of 5 stars 3.85 avg rating — 6,265 ratings — published 1988 — 36 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Accident 3.85 of 5 stars 3.85 avg rating — 5,952 ratings — published 1994 — 39 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Promise 3.82 of 5 stars 3.82 avg rating — 5,875 ratings — published 1978 — 26 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	The Ring 3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 avg rating — 5,652 ratings — published 1980 — 26 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Jewels 3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 avg rating — 5,433 ratings — published 1992 — 39 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Message from Nam 3.97 of 5 stars 3.97 avg rating — 5,115 ratings — published 1990 — 24 editions	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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Interviews

August 2011, Danielle Steel
"The grande dame of best-sellers talks about her latest novel, Happy Birthday, how persistence wins the prize, and why ghostwriters are simply shocking." ...More

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Quotes by Danielle Steel

“Things work out the way they're meant to”
― Danielle Steel, No Greater Love

tags: danielle-steel, romance, titanic

423 people liked it

“Her life was beginning to make sense again, although she couldn’t say she was enjoying it. But her mind was clear, and her heart was not constantly as heavy. Only when she thought about him. But she knew that in time, she’d survive it. She had done it before and would again. Eventually the heart repairs.”
― Danielle Steel

tags: love

93 people liked it

“you see the magic in a fairy tale, you can face the future”
― Danielle Steel

83 people liked it

See all Danielle Steel's quotes »

Polls

Who will be our author for the August Author Spotlight Challenge?

Kristen Ashley

8 votes 38.1%

Maeve Binchy

3 votes 14.3%

Nora Roberts

3 votes 14.3%

Christine Feehan

3 votes 14.3%

Danielle Steel

2 votes 9.5%

Maya Banks

2 votes 9.5%

21 total votes

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Topics Mentioning This Author

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Glens Falls (NY) ...: Danielle Steele - Your opinion?	9	69	Feb 16, 2009 06:56am
What's The Name o...: SOLVED two friends go out with older guys, get in car crash, father of one girl is cheating [s]	2	54	Aug 02, 2009 08:03pm
Book Haven: Reasons you avoid certain genres/themes	195	148	Sep 13, 2009 01:04pm
The Seasonal Read...: FALL CHALLENGE 2009 COMPLETED TASKS	4045	2571	Nov 30, 2009 09:01pm
Romance Readers R...: November Monthly Challenge: Participants' Lists Thread	294	282	Dec 02, 2009 04:32am

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Danielle's Fans (1855)

Danielle Steel

Author profile

156 posts
Danielle Steel's Blog

combine editions
Danielle Steel's Books

Upcoming Events

Interviews

Quotes by Danielle Steel

Polls

Topics Mentioning This Author

Add NewVideos

Danielle's Fans (1855)

Danielle Steel

Author profile

156 postsDanielle Steel's Blog

combine editionsDanielle Steel's Books

Upcoming Events

Interviews

Quotes by Danielle Steel

Polls

Topics Mentioning This Author

Add New
Videos

156 posts
Danielle Steel's Blog

combine editions
Danielle Steel's Books