I remember deciding that I didn’t want other people’s opinions to dictate who I was anymore. I became more comfortable being myself, and in a way, I fell in love with who I was again.
That experience stayed with me.
Divine Onyejiuwa – 11 November 2026
The Back Flap
At Rosemont High, Griselda Willow is known by only one name: the Ugly Duckling.
Bullied, overlooked, and desperate to stay invisible, Griz survives high school by hiding behind her charcoal sketches. Her art is the only place she feels real, but keeping it secret is the only way to stay safe.
Then Marbiee Loberts walks in.
Glamorous, fearless, and impossible to ignore, Marbiee doesn’t care about school royalty or social rules. Instead of joining the crowd, she chooses Griz—demanding that she stop hiding her brilliance from a world that tried to shrink her.
For the first time, Griz feels seen. But visibility comes with a target.
When high school crush Steven enters the picture and jealousy sparks a devastating public betrayal, Griz is forced to face a brutal choice: crawl back into the shadow of the identity forced upon her, or step into the spotlight and claim who she truly is.
Marbiee and the Ugly Duckling is an empowering YA story about reclaiming your identity, surviving teenage cruelty, and finding the beauty in your own talent.
About the book
What is the book about?
Marbiee and the Ugly Duckling is a YA contemporary story about a girl who has been bullied so relentlessly that she eventually learns to make herself invisible.
At Rosemont High, Griselda “Griz” Willow is known as the Ugly Duckling. Years of being mocked, overlooked, and made to feel like she doesn’t belong have pushed her into the shadows, where she hides behind her charcoal sketches and keeps her talent to herself. Staying unnoticed feels safer than giving people another reason to hurt her.
Then Marbiee Loberts comes along.
Bold, radiant, and completely unwilling to accept the way everyone sees Griz, Marbiee sees something in her that Griz has stopped seeing in herself. But when friendship, a high-school crush, jealousy, and a devastating betrayal enter the picture, Griz is forced into the one thing she’s spent years avoiding: being seen.
At its heart, the story is about bullying, identity, and the courage to stop letting other people’s cruelty define you.
When did you start writing the book?
I started writing Marbiee and the Ugly Duckling in 2024, and I actually completed the book that same year. It was a story I had been carrying in my imagination, and once I began writing it, the characters and their world came together surprisingly quickly.
How long did it take you to write it?
The initial manuscript took me about five days to write. I was still figuring out some of the characters and discovering little details about the story as I went, so after finishing the first draft, I kept coming back to it—reading, editing, and proofreading until I finally felt that it was ready. I think the hardest part wasn’t finishing the story; it was deciding when I was finally ready to let it go.
Where did you get the idea from?
The idea came from a combination of the stories I loved growing up and some of my own experiences as a young girl. I read a lot of YA stories and watched movies, cartoons, and animations about young people, and I think they gradually made me want to create a world of my own.
But there was also something personal behind the story. During my early teenage years, I experienced bullying at school, and it changed the way I saw myself. Eventually, I transferred to another school, and that gave me the chance to start over. I remember deciding that I didn’t want other people’s opinions to dictate who I was anymore. I became more comfortable being myself, and in a way, I fell in love with who I was again.
That experience stayed with me. When I created Griz, I knew I wanted to tell a story about a girl who had been made to feel small and had started believing the identity other people had given her. I also didn’t have a friend who really stood up for me during that time, so when I created Marbiee, I imagined the kind of friend I wished someone like Griz—and, in some ways, someone like me—could have had: someone who would stand beside her and help her see the amazing person she already was.
I think that’s really where Marbiee and the Ugly Duckling came from: my love for stories, my own experience of finding myself again, and my imagination of what it could mean to have someone truly see you.
Were there any parts of the book where you struggled?
Honestly, I don’t think there was any particular part of the book that I struggled with. The story came quite naturally to me, and once I started writing, I was able to follow the characters and let the story unfold. I did go back to the manuscript several times afterward to edit and proofread it, but the actual writing process felt surprisingly natural.
What came easily?
Griz’s character came very naturally to me. I had a clear idea of who she was and how she would respond to the things happening around her. The overall plot also developed quite easily, and I especially enjoyed writing the moments between Griz and Marbiee.
Are your characters entirely fictitious or have you borrowed from real world people you know?
The characters are entirely fictional. However, I think it’s natural for little pieces of real life to find their way into the way I write. Some of Griz’s experiences were influenced by things I understood personally, but she isn’t me, and the other characters aren’t based on specific people I know.
Marbiee, in particular, came from my imagination of the kind of friend I wished someone like Griz could have—someone who would stand by her and help her see the things she couldn’t yet see in herself. So while the characters are fictional, some of the emotions behind them come from real experiences and things I’ve imagined.
We all know how important it is for writers to read. Are there any particular authors that have influenced how you write and, if so, how have they influenced you?
Two authors who have influenced me are Anna Todd and Jenny Han. Interestingly, they don’t necessarily write the same kinds of stories that I do, but I’ve always been drawn to the way they develop their characters and relationships and keep the story moving in a way that makes you want to continue reading.
With Anna Todd, I particularly enjoyed the way she built the relationship between Hardin and Tessa in the After series and created enough emotional tension to keep me invested in what would happen next. Jenny Han has also influenced me in the way she makes her characters and their relationships feel engaging and easy to get emotionally invested in.
I think I’ve taken more inspiration from their approach to storytelling—especially pacing, character relationships, and keeping readers curious—than from their particular genres. My own stories have their own voice, but I love learning from writers whose work makes me want to keep turning the page.
Do you have a target reader?
My main audience is teenagers and young adults, particularly readers who are navigating insecurity, self-esteem, identity, and the pressure to fit in. I think those years can be such an emotionally complicated time. You’re discovering who you are while also becoming very aware of how other people see you, and sometimes their opinions can affect the way you see yourself.
That’s something I wanted to explore in Marbiee and the Ugly Duckling. Even the characters who bully Griz have their own insecurities, which is part of why I wanted the story to look beyond the bullying itself and explore what can drive people to hurt others.
Most importantly, I want young readers to come away feeling a little more confident in who they are. Sometimes all it takes is one person believing in you to help you see something in yourself that you couldn’t see before. But ultimately, I want readers to know that other people’s opinions don’t get to decide your worth.
About Writing
Do you have a writing process? If so can you please describe it?
My writing process usually begins long before I open my laptop. When I have an idea, I turn it into a film in my head. I imagine the characters, scenes, conversations, and how everything will unfold, almost as though I’m watching the story play out in front of me.
Sometimes I’ll even walk around and act out different scenes or conversations to myself until I can see the story clearly. I also like to know how I want the story to end before I begin writing. I don’t usually sit down and formally develop each character first; instead, I get to know them as the story plays out in my head.
Once I finally sit down to write, I already have so much of the story imagined that the words tend to flow. I can spend hours writing when I’m in that creative space, taking breaks when I need to and sometimes watching films that connect with what I’m working on. But once the story is clear in my head, I usually want to keep going until I’ve brought it to life on the page.
Do you outline? If so, do you do so extensively or just chapter headings and a couple of sentences?
I don’t usually create a written outline before I start writing. I prefer to develop the story as I go, naturally deciding where one chapter ends and the next begins. I also don’t decide on chapter titles beforehand; if I use them, I usually choose them after I’ve finished the story.
Do you edit as you go or wait until you’ve finished?
I usually edit as I go. I make adjustments and corrections while I’m writing, but once I’ve finished the manuscript, I always go back through it again to re-edit, proofread, and make any other necessary changes before I’m ready to call it finished.
Did you hire a professional editor?
No, I didn’t hire a professional editor for this book.
Do you listen to music while you write? If yes, what gets the fingers tapping?
Yes, I often listen to music while I write, especially slow, emotional songs that help set the mood. I enjoy artists like Taylor Swift, Birdy, Gracie Abrams, and Lana Del Rey. For me, it’s less about a particular genre and more about the atmosphere—the right song can put me in the emotional space I need and give me the drive to keep writing.
About Publishing
Did you submit your work to Agents?
No, I didn’t submit the book to agents.
What made you decide to go Indie, whether self-publishing or with an indie publisher? Was it a particular event or a gradual process?
It was more of a gradual process for me. I simply felt more comfortable with self-publishing because it felt personal—it was my story, my process, and something I wanted to bring into the world in my own way. It just felt like the most natural path for me.
Did you get your book cover professionally done or did you do it yourself?
I created the cover myself, developing the concept and visual direction from my own vision.
Do you have a marketing plan for the book or are you just winging it?
I definitely have a marketing plan. I’m using my website and social media to build my presence, while also exploring platforms and communities where I can connect with readers. I’m also pursuing opportunities like interviews and other forms of promotion to get my work in front of new audiences. I’m taking it one step at a time and doing everything I can to build my readership. It’s not always an easy road, but I’m committed to the process and trusting God to guide me through the journey and open the right doors along the way.
Any advice that you would like to give to other newbies considering becoming Indie authors?
Don’t be afraid to start, and don’t be discouraged when the journey doesn’t move as quickly as you’d hoped. There will be setbacks, rejection, and moments when you question yourself, but those moments don’t have to be the end of your story. Take it one step at a time, keep learning, and always put excellence into what you create. Most importantly, trust God with the journey. You don’t have to have everything figured out at once; sometimes the small steps are what eventually lead you somewhere greater.
About You
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Nigeria, which has been an important part of my journey and the person I’ve become.
What would you like readers to know about you?
I started creating stories when I was a child, inspired by my love for acting and the worlds I imagined after watching films. What began as scenes playing out in my head eventually became characters, stories, and worlds of my own. I’m a very passionate and dedicated person, and I put a lot of myself into what I create. I write across different genres, but my stories share something at their heart: I want readers to feel at home, experience the full rollercoaster of emotion, and leave with something meaningful.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently working on several new projects across different genres, including stories for younger readers and contemporary romance. I’m exploring a lot of ideas at the moment, so there’s definitely more to come.
End of Interview:
For more from Divine Onyejiuwa visit her website.
Get your copy of Marbiee and the Ugly Duckling from Kobo.
