Steele, Danielle (1947–)
Steele, Danielle (1947–)
American novelist. Born Danielle Fernande Schuelein-Steel, Aug 14, 1947, in New York, NY; studied at Parsons School of Design; m. Claude-Eric Lazard, 1965 (div. 1974); m. Danny Zugelder, 1975 (div. 1978); m. William George Toth, 1978 (div. 1981); m. John Traina, 1981 (div. 1996); m. Thomas J. Perkins, 1998 (sep.); children: (1st m.) 1; (3rd m.) 1; (4th m.) 5.
Bestselling novelist, began career as a copywriter for the Grey Advertising Agency in San Francisco; wrote over 60 romance novels, including Going Home (1973), Now and Forever (1978), The Promise (1979), Summer's End (1980), Once in a Lifetime (1982), Full Circle (1984), Wanderlust (1986), Daddy (1989), Jewels (1992), and Ransom (2004); had over 20 of her novels adapted for tv; also wrote His Bright Light: The Story of Nick Traina (1998), an account of her son who committed suicide after years of battling mental illness; recognized for work with mentally ill children. Made Chevalier of Distinguished Order of Arts and Letter by French government (2002).
See also Vickie Bane and Lorenzo Benet, The Lives of Danielle Steel (1994).