“I Have No Hobbies”: Danielle Steel’s Best Works, Adaptations, and Work Ethic that Has Made Her the Bestselling Romance Writer in History

Published by Esther Fung, Sep. 20, 2024

You don’t have to be a reader to know the name Danielle Steel. It’s emblazoned on covers in bookstores, libraries, and grocery stores. Romance writer Danielle Steel is a living legend. Since 1973, she has published almost 200 works. But she has not sacrificed quality for quantity, as all of her novels have snagged spots on various bestseller lists. Today, her works have been translated into 43 languages and have sold over 800 million copies worldwide, outselling other famed authors such as Tom Clancy, Dr. Seuss, and J.K. Rowling. See how she created this legacy for herself and what her most popular works are.

Have any of Danielle Steel's books been turned into movies?

Twenty-four of her works have been adapted into films or miniseries. The names of the movies and their release year are as follows:

• The Promise (1979)
• Now and Forever (1983)
• Crossings (1986)
• Kaleidoscope (1990)
• Fine Things (1990)
• Changes (1991)
• Palomino (1991)
• Daddy (1991)
• Jewels (1992)
• Secrets (1992)
• Message from Nam (1993)
• Star (1993)
• Heartbeat (1993)
• Family Album (1994)
• A Perfect Stranger (1994)
• Once in a Lifetime (1994)
• Mixed Blessings (1995)
• Zoya (1995)
• Vanished (1995)
• The Ring (1996)
• Full Circle (1996)
• Remembrance (1996)
• No Greater Love (1996)
• Safe Harbour (2007)

Danielle Steel's 2023 books

• Without a Trace
• Worthy Opponents
• The Wedding Planner
• Palazzo
• Happiness
• Second Act
• The Ball at Versailles

Danielle Steel's 2024 books

• Upside Down
• Never Too Late
• Only The Brave
• Resurrection
• Joy
• Triangle
• Trial by Fire

Danielle Steel's 2025 books

• Never Say Never
• Far From Home
• A Mind of Her Own
• A Mother’s Love
• For Richer or Poorer

About Danielle Steel’s writing process

How many hours a day does Danielle Steel write?

In an interview with Harvard Business Review, Steel sheds some insight on how she is able to be so prolific. 

“When I’m working on a book, I really stay with it,” she said. “I have a lot of energy, and I don’t sleep a lot. I have no hobbies. I don’t do gardening or macramé. I’ve never taken piano lessons. I’m very, very disciplined. I work about a 20-hour day.” 

She also raised nine children while writing four to seven books a year. When the interviewer asked her how she balanced her time, she shared that when they were young, she only wrote when they were asleep. Once they reached school-age, she wrote while they were at school or in bed, resulting in her only getting four hours of sleep each night. But to Steel, the lack of sleep was worth it. “I just had a need to write,” she told the interviewer. “It’s a part of my soul.” 

What is Danielle Steel’s writing routine?

In order to churn out so many books over the course of her life, Steel juggles multiple writing projects at once. She will write one draft “from beginning to end,” send it to her editor, and then move to draft another book while she waits for feedback on the first. “It’s like marinating and seasoning the books,” she explains. 

As for what her actual writing day looks like, Steel describes on her website a very focused routine: “I write in old, comfy wool nightgowns, bundled up at my desk. I don’t see anyone. I don’t comb my hair for weeks…. People bring me food on trays and I literally don’t stop until I’m finished.” Comfortable and distraction-free, Steel is completely locked into her work. 

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