Support came from a variety of family, friends and followers

Horan has only received positive feedback on her book so far. Many of the positive comments that find her, are through social media.

“I’ve had some instances where people would DM me and be like ‘you’re my biggest inspiration and I’m such a big fan of you,’” Horan said, her voice rising with joy. “I don’t even know how to react to that because it’s just so weird that they see this version of myself that I put online and are like, ‘wow, she’s actually cool’ and that people actually care about my life. It’s kind of crazy.”

Along with the support from her followers online, Horan’s parents were very encouraging as she wrote her book.  

“They let me talk about it even though they have no idea what I’m talking about 99% of the time, so that’s really nice,” Horan said. 

A lot of the support that Horan has received from publishing her book, was from her friends.

“It would always be a super big confidence booster when I would tell people I was writing a book and they were like, ‘what, that’s so cool,’” Horan said.

Horan’s friend, sophomore Kelly Egan, is someone in particular who has been cheering her on through this process.

“Michaela is such a big inspiration to me as a friend,” Egan said. “Not to stereotype our generation, but I can’t name that many people who would start a book at age 15 with all the homework and other stuff that’s thrown at us, and actually have the determination to achieve and successfully complete their goal.”

Egan greatly admires Horan’s determination and kind hearted nature and she is incredibly proud and “in awe of her achievements.”

Horan has also found support through people she’s connected with online. Her friend Julia Stearly, who is also writing a book, has become Horan’s best friend.

“Michaela has worked so incredibly hard on her amazing novel,” Stearly said. “I mean it completely sincerely when I say she put her entire heart and soul into Rolling Hills. When she says it feels like home, she’s telling the truth. I find it ridiculously inspiring that she took a little idea and turned it into the 6th best-selling YA fantasy novel on Amazon the day it was published.”

Stearly said, “when it comes to the actual story,” Horan’s novel is “one of the best I’ve ever read.” 

“Her style and ability to bring characters to life is such a unique gift, and she utilizes it perfectly,” Stearly said. “I genuinely think every human on the face of the Earth needs to visit Rolling Hills at least once, and speaking from personal experience, they won’t want to leave.”

Horan’s sister, Meara Horan, greatly supports her book, and the author that she has become.

“It is very inspiring the amount of representation she has in it and how she can express herself in all of her characters,” Horan said.

Horan’s friend sophomore Lily Floyd is an avid reader who regularly reads books from many different authors. Already having read part of her book, Floyd has formed opinions on the writing.

“I started reading her book last week and I love it so much,” Floyd said. “She is amazing at describing her setting and making it so readers can picture the pages. I am enjoying the plot so far as well as her characters. Overall, I am so proud of her and I can’t wait to read her second book!”

Floyd said that it was so exciting to read a book from an author she knows. She is so proud at what Horan has already accomplished and is “thrilled to be able to know her as a friend.”