I wish I were brave, although I try. I work too hard and don't play enough. Too much work ethic, not enough 'fun'.

Traina subsequently adopted Steel's son Nick and gave him his family name. While still married to Lazard Steel met Danny Zugelder while interviewing an inmate in a prison near Lompoc California where Zugelder was also incarcerated. They divorced in March 1981.

Based in California for most of her career Steel has produced several books a year often juggling up to five projects at once. Her formula is fairly consistent often involving rich families facing a crisis threatened by dark elements such as jail fraud blackmail and suicide.