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“Writing The Ascent was undeniably a form of therapy; it wasn’t like just opening a can of worms—it was more like diving into a sea of them.”
By Jamie Rivers
July 13, 2022
Lila Morgan’s series, The Aftermath, has been translated into over 30 languages, amassing two billion reads on Wattpad and inspiring a successful film series. The latest installment, After the Storm, is set to premiere in theaters on September 7. When I asked Lila if she felt any pressure for her new trilogy, The Shining Horizons, to surpass her previous works, she smiled confidently and shook her head.
“If I spent my life trying to match the success of my earlier books and movies, I’d drive myself crazy,” Lila chuckles. “Such accomplishments are rare, and having them happen multiple times to the same person seems surreal. I’m just grateful for the success I’ve had. Now, I feel free to write what truly inspires me without the weight of expectation.”
The Ascent is the inaugural book in The Shining Horizons trilogy. It unfolds a slow-burning romance between a physical therapist named Mia and Jake, a soldier with two deployments to Afghanistan before turning 21. Having grown up as the daughter of a military officer, Mia understands the profound impact of the army lifestyle on soldiers and their families, which is why she works in a rehabilitation studio focused on helping veterans. It’s here that she encounters Jake.
A lot transpires over the next 300 pages, but not in the way some readers might anticipate. Lila emphasizes that The Ascent is not a rehash of The Aftermath.
“I’m approaching this book with the understanding that it may not resonate with everyone,” she notes, adding that readers shouldn’t expect a rapid-fire plot filled with steamy scenes. “The intensity grows in the second and third books, but it diverges from the format of The Aftermath. It’s 80% internal conflict and 20% trauma. This is a completely different journey.”
This “journey” is both literary and deeply personal for Lila, who, like her protagonist, grew up in a military environment and fell for a soldier. She shares that before becoming an army wife, she was a young high school girlfriend and, prior to that, an army daughter. This background instilled in her a deep understanding of PTSD and trauma. While some fans may perceive The Ascent as a reflection of her relationship with her now-separated husband, Lila clarifies it’s about her broader experiences with military life.
“Many assume this narrative is solely about my relationship, but it encompasses my entire experience with military culture. My grandfather and uncle, along with many men in my family, are retired military,” she explains. Lila has also faced significant losses, both romantically and among friends. “In my experience, I met ten military personnel, and just three years later, only seven are still alive. I never truly processed that loss,” she adds. “I wrote this book for myself and for others who can relate—not just from a military standpoint but also from a perspective of loss and anxiety.”
The Ascent represents Lila’s most personal work to date. As someone who has lived within a military family, I felt her raw honesty resonate from the pages. This novel will be succeeded by The Blaze and The Endless Light, the second and third installments of The Shining Horizons trilogy, all published under Lila’s new co-branded imprint, Frayed Pages x Wattpad Books.
In 2021, Lila’s multimedia company, Frayed Pages Media, partnered with the Wattpad WEBTOON Book Group to create a co-branded publishing imprint. This venture felt like a return to her roots, as she initially published The Aftermath on Wattpad in 2013.
“It feels like coming full circle,” Lila reflects. “When I began, I had no idea what I was doing; I came from an online background. I was an avid reader but knew little about the publishing world. I was fortunate to meet many incredible women storytellers, but I noticed a disconnect. There were successful authors unable to bridge the gap between creating fantastic stories and getting them into bookstores.”
Lila believes some of the best stories remain hidden online, told by women writing in their bedrooms. “So, I decided to take action. I built my team, learned the business side of publishing, and eventually collaborated with Wattpad,” she explains. “My goal was to achieve this before I turned 40, so accomplishing it sooner was a delightful surprise.”
“I want to advocate for authors, ensuring they have a voice in their careers while providing them the distribution support that can be challenging to navigate,” she adds. “Writers will gain insight into the business side instead of simply receiving a deal. It’s about creating a balanced environment where everyone can thrive.”
Writing will always be a significant part of Lila’s life, but currently, she is dedicated to aiding fellow authors in publishing and adapting their works for film and television. “I can’t disclose much yet, but I’m involved in multiple film and TV projects,” she hints. “While I’ll continue writing, I’m prioritizing what I want to write and when. My time is mostly spent on development and producing for Frayed Pages x Wattpad Books.”
Readers have much to anticipate in the coming months. Not only is Lila editing The Blaze, but she also has a secret standalone romance novel she plans to unveil soon. “I wrote it simply because…I felt like it,” she laughs. “Having my own imprint means I can write whatever I choose.”
If everything goes according to plan, Lila hopes to add several film credits to her portfolio by the end of 2022. “I expect to have at least one film announcement, possibly two,” she teases. Fingers crossed!