About

How We Met

DeeDee Lake and Susan M. Baganz at Wendy’s after deciding to become writing partners

This funky photo was taken at a Wendy’s right after we decided to embark on this partnership. I love how we’re all spotty and smiling. We’re goofy anyway so it suits us!

DeeDee Lake and Susan M. Baganz met at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference in Estes Park, Colorado, where DeeDee pitched Susan an idea for a military romance. Susan loved it—and year after year would ask, “Where’s that story?”

Their friendship grew, and in 2018, while driving to another writers conference, Susan suggested they write the story together. One book idea soon grew into a series, and Rules of Engagement was born—a writing partnership built on faith, friendship, and a shared love of storytelling.

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. Our fifth date. 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. Pre-Christmas wedding six months after meeting via E-Harmony 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.

DeeDee Lake is an author, speaker, business coach, and lifelong connector with deep roots in the military community. A Navy brat who married an Army helicopter pilot, DeeDee has lived in more than 50 homes around the world—giving her plenty of stories, adventures, and moving boxes to draw from.

She is a seven-time published author and has spent more than a decade helping authors grow their businesses and connect their stories with readers. Her passion for healthy relationships, faith, and meaningful connection shapes both her nonfiction work and the Rules of Engagement series she co-authors with Susan M. Baganz.

DeeDee and her husband, Seth, have been married more than 40 years and have two grown children and four grandchildren. And yes—she still believes relationships are built one conversation at a time.

Want to know more about DeeDee’s military life, faith, family, and journey as an author and speaker?
Meet DeeDee →

Susan M. Baganz is an award-winning author, editor, speaker, and teacher who loves weaving faith, romance, and a touch of humor into her stories. She began writing in 2009 after a dream prompted her to take on NaNoWriMo. Since then, she has written more than 25 published works ranging from flash fiction and short stories to novellas and full-length novels.

With a Master of Arts degree in counseling psychology and experience in mental health, ministry, teaching, and editing, Susan brings a unique perspective to both her writing and her work encouraging other writers. She co-authors the Rules of Engagement military romance series with DeeDee Lake.

Susan enjoys her own happily-ever-after with her husband, Ben. When she isn’t writing, editing, or teaching, she’s happiest reading a good book, chatting with a friend over a spiced chai latte, tackling outdoor projects with Ben—or trying to beat him at mini-golf.

Want to know more about Susan’s writing journey, faith, teaching, and her own real-life happily-ever-after?
Meet Susan →

Our Sherpas

Ben Lodwick (Susan’s husband) and Seth Lake (DeeDee’s husband) – our sherpas and encouragers on this journey to publication.

Behind every good adventure are the people willing to come along for the ride. For DeeDee and Susan, those people are their husbands, Seth and Ben—affectionately known as their Sherpas.

Whether they’re carrying bags, helping at an event, patiently waiting while “just one more author thing” gets finished, or joining in the next adventure, these two have encouraged and supported DeeDee and Susan along the way.

The Rules of Engagement journey may belong to DeeDee and Susan, but they’re awfully grateful to have their favorite Sherpas beside them for the adventure. ❤️