A Message From Danielle Steel

March 2008

Dear Friends,

March can be a blustery month, with spring seeming to embrace us one day and retreating back into winter the next. St. Patrick's Day is a major event to some, although as I mention every year, there is no Irish blood in my family, so I can't claim it as "my" holiday. But those who do seem to enjoy it a lot!

Easter also comes in March this year... I've always loved coloring eggs and having Easter egg hunts with my kids. Religiously, the notion of resurrection and being reborn is very meaningful to me. After the dark days of Lent, Easter is a time of hope!

My newest hardcover, HONOR THYSELF, will come out this month. I love the book, which is about a woman who pieces her life back together--with the help of those who love her--after a terrorist attack in Paris. It is as much about finding and honoring oneself as it is about healing in important ways. I hope you love it, too! And I hope that March is a great month for you.

Love,

Danielle

P.S. You are always welcome to visit me at my home on the web:
http://info.randomhouse.com/cgi-bin21/DM/y/exW60Mx6Ij0V50H860EN

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LA USURPADORA: THE REST OF THE STORY

Hi all, a very Happy Valentine's Day. Things have been SO boring since CATALINA y SEBASTIAN wrapped up that I've been agonising over WHAT to now write about, then It suddenly hit me; for those who had watched LA USURPADORA on GALAXY, the telenovela ended on a happy note with Carlos Daniel Bracho marrying his sister-in-law, Paulina after his promiscous wife Paola's death, admist a lot of joy from his grandmother, brother, sister-in-law and his two children from his first wife(Paola was his second wife but never gave him children) and their friends. But there's more.

MAS ALLA USURPADORA  (Beyond The Usurper )is a sequel that further follows the lives of the Bracho family, many of the characters from the previous part featured.The story begins a year after Carlos Daniel and Paulina's wedding. They now have a little baby girl of their own whom they named PAULITA(after Paulina & Paola's late mother, Paula), as well as a nanny looking after the three Bracho kids, a young woman called Raquel, who is a diabolical woman obsessively in love with Carlos Daniel.

Pauly's blissful life comes crumbling down after a visit to her doctor one day; she is diagnosed with terminal cancer and has little time to live. Not wanting her husband to end up raising their children alone again, she decides to groom Raquel to take her place when the time came, after confiding in Abuela Piedad about her condition. Evil Raquel however tells Carlos Daniel about Paulina's illness later on. Pauly hears Paola's voice in her head and sees her image in a mirror taunting her...'It's your fault I'm dead, you bought me the car I had the accident in... Carlos Daniel won't be yours or mine, together we'll burn IN HELL!' In reply, Pauly smashes the mirror in terror.

Carlos Daniel comes in and consoles her, promising to consult the best doctors for a second opinion. Estefania, his sister who had been in a mental home after her sudden nervous breakdown, gradually recovered and asks for her son who is currently under the care of her other brother Roderigo and his wife Patricia who have no children and naturally, they are reluctant to hand the child back to her, BESIDES, she still was'nt completely stable.

Pauly unwisely tells diabolical Raquel of her plans for her, which makes her decide to kill Pauly, to speed up her death chosing to do that,of all days, at a party thrown to celebrate Paulina and Carlos Daniel's wedding anniversary. Meanwhile, Estephania goes to Rod and Pat's home and forcibly takes the little boy from the nanny left in charge. Raquel has the audacity to attempt to kiss Carlos Daniel when he comes to ask her to join the party but he pushes her away in disgust instead(why not, considering he almost lost Pauly due to stupidity and pride in the past). Abuela Piedad goes upstairs (after the maid whispered something in her ear) and has a few sharp words with her grandson, thinking he was up to something fishy that could ruin his marriage; since he was in a locked room with Raquel.

Raquel had already put the poison in a glass of wine for Pauly but Pauly's stepchildren-Carlitos and Lissette- unintentionally tampered with the glasses; Lissette picked the poisoned one up with the intention of taking a sip but Carlitos took it from her and placed it back, but in the wrong place. Raquel and Pauly drink a toast, the wicked girl watching Pauly evily. The children complain to their Mummy about the party being a bit boring. But Pauly suddenly goes out cold , to the children's horror. Carlitos starts to shout for help, and his uncle, Rodrigo hurries to her side, calling her name. Carlos Daniel comes down to find his wife on the couch and his brother Rodrigo and some of the other guests trying in vain to revieve her. EStephania and the baby arrive just as Pauly is rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. Diabolical Raquel feels pleased with herself but then faints too and is taken away as well; she had taken the fatal drink ! At the hospital, the doctor informs a very worried Carlos Daniel that it turns out they had given a wrong diagnosis, Pauly did NOT have cancer at all, her illness was simply a SECOND PREGNANCY! (praise ALLAH!)

After regaining consciousness, Raquel confesses her crime and begs the family for forgiveness and packs out of the mansion, out of the city and out of their lives(GOOD RIDDANCE!)

Days later, there is another family get together at the mansion- to celebrate Pauly's recovery and Estefania's return. They all sit down to pose for a family picture. All is well once again in the House of Bracho... FIN(THE END)

GIST!!!!

Gabriella Spanic(who played both Paola Bracho and Paulina Martinez Bracho) actually has an identical twin sister in real life, Daniela Spanic,(right) who is a famous model. I'm sure you are all wondering why Daniela did'nt play one twin and Gabriella the other twin in LA USURPADORA, personally I don't understand it either but I found out that Daniela appeared in ONE episode of the telenovela in a scene when Paola and Pauly had a physical battle, because it was'nt possible for any camera trick to pull that off successfully. Waste of time, they should have put both of them in it from the beginning to the fin, unless Daniela had other commitments or was'nt exactly into acting like Gabriella. Anyhow, here in Nigeria, if we had twins we would use BOTH twins.

A Message From Danielle Steel

February 2008

Dear Friends,

February is special because of Valentine's Day. Even in my childhood, I loved that day, making valentines and giving them to friends. I still love getting them and giving them--flowers, candy, and thoughtful gifts from friends.

This year, my book SISTERS will be on sale in paperback in February. I hope you decide that it will make a great Valentine's Day gift for someone you love. And I hope you get all the valentines you hope for and dream of this year!

Love,

Danielle

P.S. You are always welcome to visit me at my home on the web:
http://info.randomhouse.com/cgi-bin21/DM/y/ew730Mx6Ij0V50H860El
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CATALINA y SEBASTIAN: THE LAST BOW (Final Episode)

So very, very sorry folks for the long break in transmission, I've been so busy that I hardly had time to go browsing. Many thanks to my guest who commented on the blog's new look, it's my way of celebrating the New Year, besides, Blue is my favorite colour; another of my favorite things(laugh)!

Now, now... enough gist, let's get down to the last moments of CATALINA y SEBASTIAN a.k.a the last, FINAL episode; although there are a few things I was'nt really happy about, like Martina and Romero's breakup, Marcelo not being arrested and the audience not treated to a few moments of Catalina y Sebastian's new marriage or the sight of Cat giving birth. Well, you win some and you lose some...

Panchito tried to calm down the two very,very angry young men; reminding them that they had to respect Don Lupe whom they were burying that day. Carmelo relaxed but Sebastian broke free and to everyone's amazement, got into the car and drove off with Romero hurrying after him. Jessica read a mysterious document in her files, looked triumphant then hurried off to find Catalina and Sebastian. Carmelo, Cat still handcuffed to him, cries over the casket, more out of self pity than grief; blaming 'his Dad' for how things had ended up all because he never acknowledged him as his son. Panchito cleverly talks gently to him to get him off his guard so that he can both rescue Cat and learn a few truths. Carmelo unintentionally reveals that he did indeed kidnap Don Lupe and forged the Will, crying like the pathetic idiot that he was, everyone in the church listening intently.


Meanwhile, back in the city, the second person to be at the reading turned out to be Eduardo. Panchito was about to unlock the cuff off Catalina when Sebastian returns with a gun, threatening to shoot Carmelo if he didn't let Cat go. The shameless idiot dared him to, tauntingly telling him he was not so macho and was just jealous that he had Catalina and their father for a time. Sebastian replied that Lupe hadn't been with him willingly but under duress since his last thoughts had been for him and Martina. Carmelo recovered quickly; he sneeringly said it didn't matter anymore and shocked everyone(including myself) by kicking the casket! He was yelled at of course, but he replied that Don Lupe could go to Hell, he had all his money plus Catalina and he'll NEVER give her a divorce.

All of a sudden, Jessica's calm voice was heard; ' Catalina is NOT your wife.' and she appeared, holding some papers. Carmelo demanded to know what nonsense was she saying now and she dropped the bombshell. Catalina was not married to him and he was not a Mendoza. After the Will had been changed, he planned to have his name changed to Mendoza but went ahead to marry Catalina without waiting to get the name change formally registered, so the stupid idiot had signed 'Carmelo Mendoza' on the marriage licence, a name that didn't belong to him, so the document and his marriage to Catalina was void and meaningless by Law, so she was free to marry Sebastian again(I have to admit, I didn't see THAT coming).


In spite of the tense situation, Catalina and Sebastian couldn't help grinning at each other, while Carmelo accused Jessica of making it all up just to bother him, but was given the document that confirmed it was true. However, he stubbornly maintained that Catalina belonged to him and got infuriated when Sebastian told him  Catalina told him the whole truth about why she had to marry him in the first place and they NEVER slept together! He accused her of betraying him and displayed denial; reminding her that she was his wife and she was carrying their child but she tearfully begged him to give up, she was never his and the only man for her was Sebastian. The governor also informed him that the coroner has confirmed that Lupe had died very recently and therefore he was under arrest. Toni angrily told him to stop being so stubborn and give up once and for all, begging the Padre to do something and not allow a crime  be committed in the church! Carmelo shouted that they'll never prove it and as long as he had Cat as his prisoner, no one can follow him. Cat told him he could force her to follow him but it was Sebastian that she loved.

'Well, get ready to see you great love die' he shouts manically and aimed the gun at Sebastian. A shot rang out, but it from the governor who had shot Carmelo. He falls on Toni, who begins to scream hysterically...

Carmelo begins to bleed profusely while Sebastian grabs the keys from Panchito and finally unlocks the handcuffs off Cat's wrist and drags her away from the bastard. Petra finally tell the 2 sworn enemies the truth; that they were indeed mother and son but alas, neither party accepted the news, Carmelo whispered to Mummy, 'see you in Hell' and breathed his last.

Josepha blamed Toni for all the tragedy that had happened and did what I REALLY hoped; she packed her bag and walked out on her boss, never to come back.A police officer stopped by to tell Toni to claim her son's body at the morgue.

'I HAVE NO SON!!!!' she screams in great anger and orders him to get out of her house. Pulling down Don Lupe's photo from the shelf, she blames all her suffering and misfortune on him.

Back in the city, Silvia's lawyer plays a tape where Silvia is shown on the screen, reading her Will. To Ricardo, she left nothing but the memories she had spent with him(she's no fool at all) and to Eduardo her entire estate, ironically, he's on the same boat as her; he has money but no one to share it with.(serves him right)

In Alcatraz, Catalina looks pensive and silent when Romero remarked she and Sebastian would soon get married again; she briefly remembers how Sebastian had been unfair to her, but when Sebastian asked her what was wrong, she smiled and replied she was looking forward to their wedding but she had to go back to the capital to see Adela who is very ill.

Ricardo goes back to the penthouse and sees his father and Luisa with their suitcases. Since Alicia would be moving into Luis' apartment when they got back from their honeymoon, they would rent her house from now on. Ricardo indignantly said he'll never live there and Luisa tells him off before leaving.

Cat gently tells her now completely paralysed mother that she and Sebastian were soon to be remarried and Sebastian promised to get her the best doctors. Chucho informs Jessica that he left instructions in his Will for the agency to be sold since no one would trust Jessica after the foolish and wicked stunt she had pulled.

Ricardo finds a job at a restaurant; as a busboy!(ha, ha!)

On the wedding day...

Sebastian waits for the bride, who turns up in yet another beautiful wedding dress, as gorgeous as always, loud cheers from everyone. The mass begins, the couple exchange vows, the blessed rings exchanged and the rosary of Unity put on their shoulders by the bride's maids-Luisa and Martina. The couple are pronounced man and wife and they go out, arm in arm. At everyone's urging, Catalina and Sebastian  exchange a sensual kiss. 

PRELUDE TO THE GRAND CLIMAX!

Which is what every fan of this telenovela has been waiting for, the FINAL EPISODE OF CATALINA y SEBASTIAN, but let's not rush, first check this prelude to the fin...

Cat managed to find a pulse, which indicated that her mother was still alive. At first Creepy Carmelo thought it was a feigned crisis but reluctantly agreed to take her to the hospital when he saw it wasn't ' one of her tricks'.

Sebastian and Martina were told by Tonio that he was not their brother after all but Sebastian kindly told him that if he had to chose a brother, he'd have liked Tonio to be that brother.Toni got the biggest shock of her life when Tonio calmly told her what the 3 old women had told him; he wasn't her son and walked out on her amidst impassioned pleas from her; she had foolishly admitted(before he'd dropped the bombshell) that Don Lupe hadn't been the father of her child but had said so in order to trap him into marrying her.

Petra hurried to Alicia's to tell Gusatvo what had happened and phoned the hacienda to inform them that Carmelo was planning to come to the Mass, just as Rufina and Josefa were being questioned about who Carmelo's real parents were. On hearing the message, Sebastian furiously shouted that Carmelo will NOT be allowed in, even if he had to kill him.

At the hospital, the doctor tells Catalina and Luisa that Adela had a severe embolism and may never move or speak again, though she is aware of what's going on around her. Carmelo however refused to put up more money for her treatment. Adela tried hopelessly to tell her about her lottery win but couldn't open her mouth. Cat begged Carmelo to let her stay with her mother but was dragged away instead.
Sebastian rounds up the men of the town to prevent Carmelo from entering the church.

 The Governor assures Sebastian that he had more than enough men to arrest Carmelo(indicating that the coroner had given his report). Don Lupe's casket is carried into the church and everyone goes in , the two Mendoza children in front.

Cat begs Carmelo to slow down and gets more nervous when he creepily remarks about how happy he'd be if the he, Cat, her child and Don Lupe were together in Heaven.Toni hysterically confronts Josefa and Rufina about what they must have told Tonio, but they tell here to wait for Petra to show up.

Carmelo arrives, dragging a very reluctant and frightened Catalina by the arm, just as the Mass ended. Sebastian and the townsmen block his entrance, threatening to kill him if he dared to force his way into the church. He angrily demands to know who will prevent him from attending his ''father's Mass'';Panchito rashly tries to handcuff Carmelo to a tree but is flung away and Carmelo handcuffs poor Catalina to himself instead, threatening to punch her in the womb if anyone came nearer. Sebastian if restrained(with difficulty) from rescuing her, Toni tried to save her as well but is pushed away by a now clearly demented Carmelo who called her a 'crazy bitch.''

TO BE CONTINUED....

A Message From Danielle Steel

January 2008

Dear Friends,

January always seems like such a great month to tuck in, get cozy, stay out of wintry weather, and get organized for the new year. I don't like making resolutions because I always break them, but I love making plans for the coming year, cleaning out closets, tidying up after the holidays, and getting the year off to a great start. Keeping busy in January is a great way to avoid the post-holiday doldrums, and in most places, it's a great time of year to be at home.

Noteworthy, too, is that Martin Luther King Day falls in January. When reading about him recently, I was stunned to realize and remember how young he was when he made so many changes and was so brave. Having become a legend, we think of him--or I did--as older than he was. He was so young, and what an extraordinary legacy and mark on the world he left!

On a much different front, I'm excited about a contest Ladies' Home Journal is sponsoring as part of the promotion of my fragrance, Danielle. It's a short story contest called "Believe in Happy Endings," and if you're curious, you can find out more at [ http://info.randomhouse.com/cgi-bin21/DM/y/ewPi0Mx6Ij0V50BDsL0ET ]. I've always been a fan of happy endings, and January is certainly a good time to think about them!

Love,

Danielle

P.S. You are always welcome to visit me at my home on the web:
http://info.randomhouse.com/cgi-bin21/DM/y/ewPi0Mx6Ij0V50H860E5
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Part of the secret's out!

Before I enlighten my visitors on what's been happening, allow me to wish you all,Baraka D' Sallah and a very Merry Christmas. After the holidays , we'll all feel bummed out as we have to get back to our jobs full time , so we just have to have fun while we still can.

What's been happening...

Cat tried to run away after hearing Joaquina's on turning her over to Carmelo in exchange for money but the shameless woman told her son to keep watch over her.Not sure her feelings for Romero is real love, Martina broke up with him. At the capital, Jessica made her testimony but since there was no witness when Carmelo threatened her, it did not stick and the son-of-a-bitch(which he is, literally), was allowed to go. Cat got out with the help of Tonio's father and got into more trouble after she accepted a lift from the diabolical Toni, just returning from taking Joaquina to present her as his mother(which of course he didn't accept), after they'd gotten to her house, she drugged the unsuspecting young woman and placed a call to Adela, who in turn told Carmelo on his way back from Joaquina's house(she had told him Catalina was there and got furious on discovering her husband had helped her escape). Sebastian and Romero had been there earlier on to visit her and Magarido had told them what had happened. Carmelo found Catalina in Toni's house and dragged her back with him , amidst threats. Cat and Alicia however planned another escape; to hold on Alicia's wedding to Luis. Sebastian, not knowing about the plan at first, went to the penthouse to rescue Catalina but, to Carmelo's malicious delight, she said she had to stay with her(ugh!) husband until the child was born. Edwardo later on told him what Alicia and Catalina had planned and the matter was discussed at her house. Sylvia, who had gone into a coma following complications from the ill-advised liposuction died in her sleep, to Ricardo's joy and Edwardo's sadness; the latter organised the funeral, while Ricardo went off to celebrate(he's such a pig!).

Tonio was dismayed that Joaquina had told on Catalina and confronted Toni but the woman denied having any part of it. Romero is visited by a music producer who wants to sign him up as a new singing star, which he accepts. Alicia calls Luisa to tell her the plan was in place but alas! Adeal heard the whole thing on the extension. Alicia and Luis get married in church and the reception is held at her house. During the party, while Carmelo was fooling around with the other young men, Cat slipped away and found Sebastian waiting for her as planned but couldnt get away as Adela had tampered with the engine earlier (bitch!), so Carmelo caught them and threatened to stab Catalina in the womb if anyone tried to stop him from taking her away. But at the last minute, Petra convinced Carmelo she was on his side and was allowed to go with them to the penthouse and serve as a maid(in actual fact to look after Cat and pass secret messages to Sebastian). Poor Cat recieved a few slaps from that beast for 'making a fool of him',forced to kneel down and apologise(which she did through gritted teeth) and made to sleep in the same bed as him(her pregnancy saved her from being raped). As for Adela(though she really didnt care)got lots of insults from Sebastian and Gustavo, who gave her a slap(probably the very first) and declared that their marriage was over.

Out of severe worry, Sebastian goes to the penthouse to persuade Cat to run off with him again, but she was now far too scared for their child now to risk it and urged him to go before Carmelo came out of the shower, Sebastian managed to steal a kiss from her before the idiot could come out and see that.

Romero scolded him for putting Cat and their child at risk but Sebastian was beyond caring ; he was anxious to get her away from Carmelo once and for all. The body of Don Lupe was found in the river by two workers and after an autopsy, is confirmed as Don Lupe's. Toni was of course banned from attending the Mass and protested loudly she cannot be stopped from entering the church, so it was limited to not allowing her flowers to be used or allow her to place anything on casket, to her fury.Adela and Carmelo quarrelled; he refused to give her anymore money or buy her her precious casa at Las Lomas,calling her an opportunist and complained that her alligence to him had been very expensive. She threatened to tell the police that he had kidnapped Don Lupe but got laughed at; she HAD NO PROOF!

Tonio decided to go to see Cat to confirm that Joaquina had really betrayed her,giving a lift to Josepha and Rufina who felt it was now time for them and Petra to finall fixed the mess the and made, by finally telling the whole town who's son was who.

Sebastian managed to see Cat(who slipped away from Carmelo) while Romero distracted Creep Carmelo and told him that Don Lupe's body had finally been found.

While waiting for Cat to return, Toni overheard ther three women say that he was not Toni's son. After he angrily confronts them, Petra admits that he was the Perez's son and had only lied to "protect someone." But before he could ask anymore questions, Carmelo returned with Cat and ordered them to leave.

Adela had a fight with Ricardo who refused to share his inheritance with her. After he left, she (who had bought some lottery tickets the day before) checked the newspaper to see if she'd won while the others watched Romero on TV. To her joy, it confirmed she'd won the grand prize!

'I'm the Queen!' she shouted then grabbed her arm and cried out in pain...

She fell,a vase of flowers fell on the tickets... in her confusion she grabbed them and the wet paper crumpled in her hands....

Ricardo enters the lawyer's office full of arrogant confidence that he's Silvia's universal heir but the lawyer tells him someone else was coming for the reading of the Will.

After being ordered by Carmelo to prepare to accompany him to the town for Don Lupe's funeral Mass, Cat and Petra went to the kitchen to wash up, only to find Adela on the floor, mouth twisted and eyes wide open...