Best known for her romance novels, as of 2005, Steele has sold more than 530 million copies of her books. One or more of her novels have been on the New York Times bestseller list for over 390 consecutive weeks and twenty-one of them have been adapted for television.

Steele started writing stories as a child, and by her late teens had begun writing poetry. A graduate of the Lycée Français de New York, class of 1965, she went on to study at New York University and in Europe. At age nineteen she completed her first novel and was first published after years of frustration in 1973.

In addition to her novels for adults, Steele has written the "Max and Martha" series of books for young readers. 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. Steel has published a book of poetry and has also written two nonfiction books, Having a Baby, and His Bright Light, the latter about the life and death of her son Nicholas Traina.

As a result of her own dysfunctional family, Steele maintains a strong interest in the well-being of children, and has raised nine of her own. She has been married five times, and is currently single. Her husbands to date are Claude-Eric Lazard, Danny Zugelder, William Toth, John Traina, and Tom Perkins.

She was first married at age eighteen and had one daughter. This was followed by a brief second marriage to a convicted rapist and she soon found herself pregnant out of wedlock with her second child by the heroin addicted William Toth. She married him shortly before giving birth to their son whom she named Nicholas, but they divorced soon after. She married for the fourth time to John Traina, who already had two sons of his own. Traina subsequently adopted Nick and gave him his family name. With John Traina, Steele gave birth to four daughters and a son, but that marriage also ended in divorce. Her fifth marriage to the Silicon Valley financier Tom Perkins lasted less than two years, ending in 1999.

For her lifetime contribution to world culture, in 2002 the French government decorated Danielle Steele as a "Chevalier" of the distinguished Order of Arts and Letters.

Danielle Steele has a home in Pacific Heights, San Francisco, California and in 2003 opened an art gallery in the city to exhibit the paintings and sculptures of emerging artists. She also maintains a residence in France where she spends several months of each year. She is of German Jewish and Portuguese heritage.

Chronology of Danielle Steele's novels:

The House Toxic Bachelors (October 2005) Miracle (July 2005) Impossible (March 2005) Echoes (November 2004) Second Chance (July 2004) Ransom (March 2004) Safe Harbour (November 2003) Johnny Angel (July 2003) Dating Game (March 2003) Answered Prayers (October 2002) Sunset in St. Tropez (June 2002) The Cottage (February 2002) The Kiss (October 2001) Leap Of Faith (June 2001) Lone Eagle (April 2001) Journey (October 2000) The House On Hope Street (June 2000) The Wedding (April 2000) Irresistible Forces (November 1999) Granny Dan (July 1999) Bittersweet (April 1999) Mirror Image (November 1998) His Bright Light (October 1998) The Klone And I (July 1998) The Long Road Home (May 1998) The Ghost (December 1997) Special Delivery (August 1997) The Ranch (May 1997) Silent Honor (November 1996) Malice (May 1996) Five Days In Paris (December 1995) Lightning (July 1995) Wings (December 1994) The Gift (July 1994) Accident (March 1994) Vanished (August 1993) Mixed Blessings (December 1992) Jewels (June 1992) No Greater Love (November 1991) Heartbeat (March 1991) Message From Nam (June 1990) Daddy (November 1989) Star (March 1989) Zoya (June 1988) Kaleidoscope (November 1987) Fine Things (March 1987) Wanderlust (July 1986) Secrets (November 1985) Family Album (March 1985) Full Circle (June 1984) Changes (September 1983) Thurston House (July 1983) Crossings (August 1982) Once In A Lifetime (April 1982) A Perfect Stranger (June 1983) Remembrance (September 1981) Palomino (April 1981) The Ring (August 1980) Loving (October 1981) To Love Again (April 1981) Summer's End (October 1980) Season Of Passion (August 1980) The Promise (April 1978) Now And Forever (February 1978) Passion's Promise (January 1977) Going Home (1973)