Romance History: Danielle Steel

Danielle Fernande Dominique Schuelein-Steel was born in August 1948, in New York, The daughter of a German nobleman, John Schulein Steel, her family tree includes the Lowenbrau beer barons on her father's side, and a Porluguese diplomatic family on her mother's side, Norma da Câmara Stone Reis.

She wrote her first novel in the very early 1970s called Going Home, which Pocket Books published. Five books and no contracts later, Danielle was on the verge of joining the Protestant ministry when her seventh book Passion's Promise, sold to Dell. The rest, proverbially, is history.

It has been said that DanieIIe Steel's own life resembles the lives of the women in her novels. The same elements are certainly there; an international background (she is fluent in four languages, and French is her native tongue), opulent surroundings, beautiful clothes, antique cars, and a hint of mystery about her personal life. In 1965, when she was only 18, Steel married banker Claude-Eric Lazard. After nine years of marriage, Steel's relationship with Lazard ended. Steel married again, enjoying a jailhouse ceremony with Danny Zugelder. The marriage ended quickly and Zugelder was later convicted of a series of rapes. Steel married her third husband, heroin-addicted William Toth, the day after her divorce from Zugelder was final. This marriage ended within two years. Still optimistic about finding love, Steel married for the fourth time in 1981, to vintner John Traina. Steel married for a fifth time, to Silicon Valley financier Tom Perkins, but the marriage lasted less than two years, ending in 1999.

To read more:

http://rosaromance.splinder.com/post/19024657/

Romance History: Danielle Steel

Danielle Fernande Dominique Schuelein-Steel was born in August 1948, in New York, The daughter of a German nobleman, John Schulein Steel, her family tree includes the Lowenbrau beer barons on her father's side, and a Porluguese diplomatic family on her mother's side, Norma da Câmara Stone Reis.

She wrote her first novel in the very early 1970s called Going Home, which Pocket Books published. Five books and no contracts later, Danielle was on the verge of joining the Protestant ministry when her seventh book Passion's Promise, sold to Dell. The rest, proverbially, is history.

It has been said that DanieIIe Steel's own life resembles the lives of the women in her novels. The same elements are certainly there; an international background (she is fluent in four languages, and French is her native tongue), opulent surroundings, beautiful clothes, antique cars, and a hint of mystery about her personal life. In 1965, when she was only 18, Steel married banker Claude-Eric Lazard. After nine years of marriage, Steel's relationship with Lazard ended. Steel married again, enjoying a jailhouse ceremony with Danny Zugelder. The marriage ended quickly and Zugelder was later convicted of a series of rapes. Steel married her third husband, heroin-addicted William Toth, the day after her divorce from Zugelder was final. This marriage ended within two years. Still optimistic about finding love, Steel married for the fourth time in 1981, to vintner John Traina. Steel married for a fifth time, to Silicon Valley financier Tom Perkins, but the marriage lasted less than two years, ending in 1999.

To read more:

http://rosaromance.splinder.com/post/19024657/

Behind the Cover: Bruce Jensen

Bruce Jensen (born 1962 in Indianapolis, Indiana) is a US illustrator who has created book covers for science fiction authors such as Kim Stanley Robinson, Neal Stephenson, Charles Sheffield, Joe Haldeman, Linda Nagata, and Philip K. Dick. His covers were described by Nagata as "deftly illustrat[ing] the mood, the feeling of the book". He also drew the unfinished Neuromancer graphic novel in 1989. He won the 1995 Jack Gaughan Award for Best Emerging Artist.


Whiteout - Acrylic

( more pics )

Bruce Jensen began drawing at an early age, drawing the typical childhood birds and dinosaurs. As he grew older he discovered science fiction. A book that heavily influenced his decision to become a science fiction cover artist was Jack Gaughn's cover to The Skylark of Valeron by E. E. Smith. When Bruce was in high school he realized his dream to become an artist. He then went on to the Columbus College of Art and Design, receiving BFA in 1984; it is here that he developed his more abstract usage of color.

In the summer of 1984 Jensen received his first cover assignment, which went well enough for him to receive others immediately after this. During the next six years after his first book cover he had produced twelve book covers; he also spent some time working in television. In 1990 Jensen was earning enough money from painting science fiction book covers that he considered it to be his full time job.

When Jensen began painting book covers, his art was representational, realistically showing scenes from the books. It was only in 1990 that Bantam Books editor Betsy Mitchell persuaded Jensen to use his artistic ability and produce paintings that were based on emotion, something that Jensen had wanted to do, but refrained from because he thought they would be rejected.

http://homepage.mac.com/brucejensen/PhotoAlbum1.html

Behind the Cover: Bruce Jensen

Bruce Jensen (born 1962 in Indianapolis, Indiana) is a US illustrator who has created book covers for science fiction authors such as Kim Stanley Robinson, Neal Stephenson, Charles Sheffield, Joe Haldeman, Linda Nagata, and Philip K. Dick. His covers were described by Nagata as "deftly illustrat[ing] the mood, the feeling of the book". He also drew the unfinished Neuromancer graphic novel in 1989. He won the 1995 Jack Gaughan Award for Best Emerging Artist.


Whiteout - Acrylic

( more pics )

Bruce Jensen began drawing at an early age, drawing the typical childhood birds and dinosaurs. As he grew older he discovered science fiction. A book that heavily influenced his decision to become a science fiction cover artist was Jack Gaughn's cover to The Skylark of Valeron by E. E. Smith. When Bruce was in high school he realized his dream to become an artist. He then went on to the Columbus College of Art and Design, receiving BFA in 1984; it is here that he developed his more abstract usage of color.

In the summer of 1984 Jensen received his first cover assignment, which went well enough for him to receive others immediately after this. During the next six years after his first book cover he had produced twelve book covers; he also spent some time working in television. In 1990 Jensen was earning enough money from painting science fiction book covers that he considered it to be his full time job.

When Jensen began painting book covers, his art was representational, realistically showing scenes from the books. It was only in 1990 that Bantam Books editor Betsy Mitchell persuaded Jensen to use his artistic ability and produce paintings that were based on emotion, something that Jensen had wanted to do, but refrained from because he thought they would be rejected.

http://homepage.mac.com/brucejensen/PhotoAlbum1.html