Novel Inspirations

Hi, I'm E. S. Sierra, the writer of Momentum and an avid lover of DVD/Blu-Ray extras, easter eggs, and behind-the-scenes trivia about how (and why) my favorite stories came to be. If you also love the stories behind your favorite stories, read on to discover the connective moments which led to Momentum.

— E. S.

— E. S.

Momentum's inspiration came from a collaboration of sources, but was most heavily influenced by the following:

Impetus: The driving force of Momentum.

Artist Sam Smith's "Too Good at Goodbyes" was my novel's first inspiration. Its emotional lyrics led to the creation of what would later be known as an Instance—someone who can hold moments in a physical way—like Thea, Momentum's first protagonist.

Setting: Where it began.

Momentum's setting came to life when my husband first took me to Venice Island's South Jetty. I'd never been to—or known—what a jetty was before, and as someone who adores a view of the water but hates salt water in my eyes and sand in my everywhere, I was amazed at being able to walk into the ocean and having to deal with neither. That, and my husband having grown up in Venice, FL, made the community feel like a home. Marshall, MN was my first home, but maybe Venice, FL could be Adam's.

Characters: Where did they come from?

As for Momentum's characters, they were largely inspired by characters or actors I already loved. I've always been an avid lover of cinema and story, but long-form storytelling might be my favorite. Many—but not all—of my characters have been inspired by series I've watched, which means primarily The WB and The CW.

The wonderful thing about creating a world in your mind is getting to hire top talent. No role is too big, and no role is too small to be inspired by the best in the biz. I cast every speaking character to help find their voice, including fan favorite WB and CW talent from shows like the following: Arrow, The Flash, Gilmore Girls, Jane the Virgin, One Tree Hill, Reba, Roswell, Supernatural, and The Vampire Diaries.

But inspiration knows no limits. Other prominent series characters which brought my own characters to life include those from notables like the following: Desperate Housewives, The Great, Grey's Anatomy, Outer Banks, Running Point, Teen Wolf, and others.