DeeDee Lake and Susan M. Baganz met at Estes Park, Colorado for the Colorado Christian Writer’s Conference. DeeDee pitched a story about military romance and Susan loved the idea. Year after year Susan would ask where that story was. During that time they became close friends even though Dee Dee lived in Colorado and Susan in Wisconsin. In 2018 as they were driving to another conference Susan suggested maybe they should write the book together.
A partnership was born where faith and friendship are key and soon Susan realized that all the ideas DeeDee had could amount to a series and Rules of Engagement was born!
ABOUT DEEDEE
DeeDee Lake, The Connection Expert loves Jesus and lives in Colorado Springs with her hubby, Seth and two lazy dogs. Her ten-year-old golden retriever, Lucy can be found snoring away the hours while DeeDee writes.
She is
- A Speaker
- An Author of Next Step. You’ve Accepted Jesus. Now What?
- A Blogger
- A Part-time Adult
- A Potato Lover
She speaks and writes about her passion – communication and connection.
Her strength: Never Meets a Stranger
Her weakness: Starbucks Sugar Free Venti Decaf Skinny Vanilla No Whip Soy Extra Carmel Drizzle Frap
DeeDee grew up as a Navy Brat mostly in Spain, married an Army helicopter pilot, lived in over fifty houses and still loves to move her furniture several times a year
She’s lived in four countries and most of the United States. She can unpack a house full of boxes quicker than an Olympic sprinter can sprint a 100-meter dash. Her military life prepared her to love people, expect the best, respect authority and other cultures, and always be inclusive.
Here’s more you might want to know about DeeDee Lake:
- She’s been a Christian Relationship coach and mentor for over twenty-five years
- Married thirty-seven years, she is crazy about her man, Seth
- They adopted two babies – a four-month-old girl from Panama and a three-week-old boy from New York City. They’re grown now and terrific people – especially because they live on their own.
- Her three grandkids call her Nana and she has been known to spoil them on occasion.
She’s outgoing, funny, and can out talk an auctioneer – she says more words without taking a breath than your average person. Some may even say she is an Olympic Level Chatter – if it was an Olympic event.
She’s a graduate of the National Speakers Association – Colorado Chapter’s Speaker Academy where she honed her speaking skills. Although, her family believes she came into this world chatting and connecting,
Her book, a guide for teen girl’s Christian journey, Next Step. You’ve Accepted Jesus. Now What? is based on DeeDee’s desire to walk with girls and young woman as they grow in the Lord.
DeeDee Lake was a teen when she accepted Christ and had no clue what the next steps were for her. She knew Jesus. but didn’t know how to live out her faith walk.
Years later in Panama she was blessed with amazing Christian women who came along side of her and led the way. She learned by doing life with them and it forever changed her. DeeDee knew then her life would be filled with reaching back to help other young women.
Feeling lost and not knowing where to look for answers was troubling for DeeDee and her hope is to always be a woman of faith that other women, teens, and children can look to for guidance, love, and fun!
DeeDee writes a column in her local paper called The Connection Expert. She blogs too. You can find them on her website. You never know what she will blog about, but most certainly it will center around communication, relationships, or connections with a bit of humor too.
She’s the owner of Cherish Relations Retreats and lives out her faith guiding individuals how to experience extraordinary relationships. DeeDee is also the Author Relations Coordinator for CrossRiver Media and loves hanging out with their authors.
When you hear lots of people chatting and laughing, she’ll be in the center of it all. DeeDee believes relationships are built one conversation at a time. She’s looking forward to connecting with you soon!
You can find DeeDee Lake at DeeDeeLake.com.
ABOUT SUSAN
Susan M. Baganz is enjoying her own happily-ever-after with her husband Ben who keeps her laughing. Her home consists of her husband, and two hobbits: an adult son and a sweetheart of a teenage daughter. Their senior dog, Spatzle is a watchdog and writes book reviews for her blog susanbaganz.com. The newest member of the family is another dog, Cooper who is a goofball.
Susan began writing in 2009 after a dream where she believed God told her to do NaNoWriMo. She dug in, learned, endured the critiques, re-wrote, and then wrote many more books before falling into being an editor as well. She has produced more than 25 published manuscripts from flash fiction, short stories, novellas to full-length novels.
Susan speaks, teaches, and encourages others to follow God in being all He has created them to be. With her Master of Arts degree in counseling psychology from Trinity Evangelical College in Deerfield, Ill., a background in the field of mental health, and years of serving in various church ministries, she understands the complexities and pain of life as well as its craziness. She’s led women’s ministry and understands the struggles many women face, since she’s endured some of her own. She’s taught graduate-level theology and leadership courses and teaches writing to the local university through their continuing education department as well as at various Christian writers conferences.
Her favorite pastimes are lazy…snuggling with her dogs while reading a good book or sitting with a friend chatting over a cup of spiced chai latte, or more recently running the skid-loader to assist her busy husband (who is supposedly retired) with outdoor projects at home. And on a nice day off in good weather, she’ll be trying to beat Ben at mini-golf.
Rules of Engagement 