Dangerous Love lovelies, we are so excited to share with you a new project! It's all about romance with drops of danger and a little mystery.

We want to celebrate one of our favorite authors, E.L Lewis, and her sexy dangerous story, MILO. And what could be a better way to do it than an interview?

Join us on a journey full of surprises, where imagination has no limits and where love meets danger. We hope you will be as excited as we are to read MILO and at the same time, learn a few tips on how to write an amazing story with authentic characters, strong relationships and of course, a spark of untamed love.

About MILO

Jet-setting, danger, mafia bosses, and romance—MILO is E.L. Lewis's sexiest, most-provocative story yet and will leave you absolutely breathless. After polyglot Kiara Payne fumbles a robbery on her first day as a bank teller, she's thrust into the mafia underworld. But she's not alone. Her fate is in mafia boss Milo Di Vaio's menacingly sexy hands. MILO follows Kiara's whirlwind adventure as his translator, helping him clean up the messes made by his late brother, while getting into a mess of her own. It's Kiara, Milo, and a steamy romance that leaves them questioning everything they know about love, loyalty, and what's really worth dying for.

So, who is E.L. Lewis?

Hi, friend! My name is Liza, but I write under the pen name E.L. Lewis. I joined Wattpad a little under two years on a whim and haven't looked back since. When I started writing for fun during COVID, not in a million years did I think I'd be traditionally published or joining the Paid Stories program on Wattpad. It's been a complete dream. I've met so many talented writers on this platform and made connections with readers who keep me going every day. Thank you so, so much for all the support, encouragement and love!

What was the inspiration behind MILO?

MILO was inspired by watching "365 Days," plus some market research on what types of stories were trending on Wattpad. Like most people, I thought that the ending to "365 Days" was sad and I decided I needed to rewrite it in my own way, as a mafia romance with a happy ending! Coming up with an original mafia plot was difficult and I didn't want it to be overly trope-y, granted there are always common themes in dark romances. As with all my stories, I knew I wanted a strong and confident female main character and a love interest that didn't cross lines that were too toxic. It was tricky to balance but somehow it all came together in the end!

MILO is full of interesting characters. Who was the most fun to write?

I loved writing Kiara! She definitely went through a big change throughout the story. It was fun to watch her slowly assimilate into the mafia world while maintaining her boundaries. I say "watch" because I swear I have no control over my own characters. I also thoroughly enjoyed writing Julia, Milo's sister. She was a much-needed comedic break and really helped Kiara see her world in a different light. And we can't forget Milo, a man after all our hearts. He's just swoonworthy in all the best ways.

It's been said that we all have something in common with the characters we write about. Do you think you have any similarities with your protagonist, Kiara?

I'll preface this by saying Kiara is like a million times smarter than me LOL, I know that's weird to say because I wrote her, but trust me, she is! I think one similarity I have with Kiara is that she tries to see the good in people. She's also stubborn as hell. So... Yeah. Guilty.

We all love a hint of spice in our scenes here at Dangerous Love. Did you find it hard to write the love scenes?

BIG YES. Prior to MILO, I had never written explicit scenes, so it was a terrifying learning curve. I wanted to make sure my scenes were accurate but also touched on the emotional aspects. I did a bunch of research on word choice, plus bought a reference book for writers haha. I'm glad they turned out well, but boy, was I nervous.

Did you encounter any challenges while writing in the dangerous love and crime genre?

I'd be lying if I said MILO was an easy story to write. I definitely had a few crying sessions. With the mafia genre, I had to do tons of research to figure out how crime organizations function and the accuracy of setting, language, and psychological reactions to trauma. Since I didn't have the entire story planned from the get-go, it was challenging to piece all the plot lines together. But with the help of a couple talented writers, it all worked out.

What scene was the hardest for you to write?

Without giving too much away, chapter 17. It was a defining moment for Kiara and I needed to capture her emotions perfectly.

You explore so many themes in MILO. What do you hope readers take away from reading it?

I think this story really captures the spectrum of human emotions: love, loyalty, morality, and loss. Kiara's entire outlook on the world is tested and she doesn't always make the best decisions. But that's human and that's okay. As romance readers, we always want the two love interests to click and be happy but in reality, happily ever after is often the journey not the destination.

What was your experience like writing this story?

The one thing I love about writing on Wattpad is that readers get to see the story unfold as I write. I'm a pantser! I don't have every single thing planned out before I write, so it's always exciting reading reactions and comments in real-time. Oftentimes, I'll change the storyline based on reader's predictions, which makes plot twists that much sweeter! I loved the engagement MILO received during its ongoing stage, and I'm grateful for all the suggestions and feedback!

Wattpad is full of re-readers and first-time readers. What would you say to them?

New readers, please be patient with Kiara. She's catapulted into deep waters without a life jacket and she's doing her best. It's not always going to be pretty but the outcome will be beautiful, I promise!

Re-readers, my loves! Thank you for your undying support of this story. It means the world to me! Milo-tonin for everyone ❤.

Following the success of MILO joining the Paid Stories program, can we look forward to more from you?

I'm currently working on another mafia romance titled Bloodlust, which is almost complete. It follows a new mafia queen in New York City who meets her match in a brooding therapist. There are tons of twists and budding sexual tension. After Bloodlust, I'll be working on a motorcycle club romance titled Darlin'. It'll be like "Sons of Anarchy" meets "Sweet Home Alabama". Follow me on Instagram @ellewiswrites to keep up to date on my stories ❤.

Loved meeting the brains behind your new favorite crime drama? Us, too! We're equally obsessed with Liza as we are her new story, MILO. We know you love supporting your beloved authors, so buy the Paid Story here!

Stay tuned! Part two of our discussion with E.L. Lewis is coming soon!