People have entire relationships via text message now, but I am not partial to texting. I need context, nuance and the warmth and tone that can only come from a human voice.

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.