NATASHA BRUNE’S JOURNEY FROM SILENT STRUGGLES TO INSPIRING HEALING THROUGH STORYTELLING - VORAKA

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN VORAKA

Article Published on 10 July 2025 by Kelley Rose | www.vorakamag.com Natasha Brune is a writer whose life has been anything but ordinary, and whose stories continue to inspire readers of all ages. Best known for her Wise Marie series, Natasha has found a way to bridge generations through heartfelt storytelling, offering children and adults alike the gift of emotional truth, resilience, and transformation. Whether it’s the whimsical world of Wise Marie and the Little Ladybug or the deeply personal adult titles inspired by her own lived experiences, her work carries a message that healing is always possible, and that wisdom often comes through pain.

NATASHA BRUNE

But Natasha’s powerful voice wasn’t born out of ease. It was shaped by solitude, struggle, and spiritual growth. Raised by a published author in the serene Adirondacks and inspired by her late father Bud, a film crew member in Hawaii, Natasha’s creative roots run deep. Her writing draws from a life lived in extremes, from moments of quiet reflection in the Colorado mountains to overcoming some of life’s most difficult battles, including addiction, incarceration, and the fight to rebuild.

After completing a three-and-a-half-year residential drug rehabilitation program and serving time in prison, Natasha graduated from Heald College with a 4.0 GPA, never missing a single day. In 2018, she received a full pardon from the Governor of Hawaii, a symbol of the redemption she fought so hard to earn. Her story doesn’t end with survival; it begins again with purpose. Before dedicating herself to writing, Natasha built a successful real estate portfolio alongside her husband, managing nearly $8 million in assets and running three LLCs. She also founded the Aloha Jigsaw Foundation, a nonprofit rooted in compassion and community support. Since 2015, she’s been self-employed, embodying independence, discipline, and grace in every chapter of her life.

Today, Natasha is not only a published author but also a speaker and advocate, eager to connect with a new generation, particularly Gen Z readers drawn to nostalgia and authenticity. Her voice is warm, her words are sincere, and her message is clear: you are never too broken to heal, never too lost to be found, and never too late to rise again.

Through every page she pens, Natasha Brune invites us into a world where faith in oneself, healing, and purpose are not only possible, they’re waiting. ABOUT THE BOOK

“THE WISE MARIE: PARADISE EDITION” BY NATASHA BRUNE

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The Wise Marie: Paradise Edition is more than a crime story, it’s a deeply moving narrative that weaves together themes of resilience, culture, trauma, and healing. Set against the backdrop of Hawaii’s breathtaking beauty and cultural complexity, Natasha Brune invites readers into a world where paradise is anything but perfect. The book explores the often-untold realities of life in the islands, from the struggles of day-to-day survival to the scars left by abuse, broken systems, and generational pain. Drawing from her own lived experiences and the stories of people she has encountered throughout her life, Brune crafts a fictionalized but deeply authentic collection of moments and memories. 

Through the eyes of unforgettable characters, particularly Ace, whose story will break hearts, readers witness the raw truth of a life shaped by hardship, the fight for freedom, and the power of personal transformation. The narrative is infused with rich details about Hawaiian culture: the sacred relationship with the land (ʻāina), the vibration of the ocean, the importance of family and community, culinary traditions, and the blend of humor and humility that locals carry.

Brune also challenges the mainstream fantasy of Hawaiian living, shedding light on the harsh economic realities many residents face, often working multiple jobs just to stay afloat in so-called paradise. 

At its core, this book is a powerful message of perseverance and redemption. From surviving a violent past to building a future rooted in purpose, Wise Marie is about finding strength amid chaos and hope in unlikely places. It also gives voice to the urgent needs of the Hawaiian community, particularly in the aftermath of the devastating 2023 Maui fires. Brune’s nonprofit, the Aloha Jigsaw Foundation, provides a lifeline to those left behind, homeless orphans, seniors, uninsured families, and individuals still rebuilding their lives. 

With this first volume, Natasha Brune delivers an unapologetically honest and emotionally resonant story. Readers will find not only suspense and grit but also a call to compassion, community, and change. Wise Marie Paradise Edition is a courageous offering from a writer who lives her message: anything is possible.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH NATASHA BRUNE

VORAKA: What inspired you to write for both children and adults and how do you shift between those worlds?

NATASHA: My mentor, Peggy McColl, sparked the idea during her Author’s Edge program. Within 24 hours, I wrote Wise Marie and the Little Ladybug, now my top-selling children’s book, which is Marie Before She Becomes Dark. I shift easily, children’s stories channel wonder; adult tales process pain into purpose.

VORAKA: Who is Wise Marie to you, and how did she come to represent something greater than a storybook character?

NATASHA: Marie is me, raw, resilient, and reimagined. I fictionalized real people and events to find the courage to tell the truth. What started as Beauty and the Dopehead evolved into Wise Marie, a tool for healing, corporate keynotes, and suicide or drug awareness.

VORAKA: How do you turn personal pain into powerful prose without losing its raw truth?

NATASHA: I kept it honest, only one story was removed out of respect. Writing through trauma, including homelessness and near-death, proved I’m unbreakable. If I survived the “Man of the Korn,” others can too. That’s the power behind the pain.

VORAKA: What inner strength carried you from prison and rehab to a life of purpose and storytelling?

NATASHA: In jail, I poked a mirror in my cell and saw who I was. Reading Journey from Hell lit a fire. People doubted me, but I graduated from a 3.5-year program, earned a 4.0 GPA, and bought property. Doubt fuels me. Challenge accepted. Full send.

VORAKA: How has your family’s creative legacy shaped your voice as an author today?

NATASHA: My father, Pascal Ronald Politano, was a prolific writer and poet. Though unpublished in film, he stood firm in his values. That integrity runs through me. I’ve always written, spoken, and imagined in color. Even as a dropout, spelling bees were my domain.

VORAKA: What role have the Colorado mountains and Hawaiian beaches played in your creative process?

NATASHA: Colorado gave me calm to write; Hawaii gave me soul. The ocean’s frequency stirs something ancient in me. During lockdown and last August, I wrote deeply. But Hawaii’s pull never leaves, I long for it even when I’m writing in the Rockies.

VORAKA: How did your transformation from real estate mogul to full-time author unfold?

NATASHA: My transition from real estate mogul to full-time author was unexpected and guided by intuition. In March 2024, I resumed mindset training with the Proctor Gallagher Institute, and by March 2025, I had sold my rental properties. In October 2024, I realigned with our mission at the Aloha Jigsaw Foundation, which I founded with Clyde Aikau, to support youth affected by the Maui Fires. By the fall of this year, we will launch the Wise Marie Academy.

VORAKA: What’s the deeper mission behind your nonprofit, and how does it reflect your personal philosophy?

NATASHA: We’re rebuilding lives after the Maui fires, one child at a time. Kids witnessed trauma, loss, violence, and addiction. Our mission is to guide them with mindset tools, cultural storytelling, and leadership camps. We uplift from the inside out, healing, teaching, and transforming futures.

VORAKA: How has living with ADHD influenced the way you approach writing and discipline?

NATASHA: ADHD is my superpower. I was misunderstood in school, but Hawaiian teachers saw my spark. Phil Goldfine reminded me that this isn’t a disorder, it’s a paradigm. I think fast, multitask well, and remember everything. That’s how I write and build with flow.

VORAKA: What draws you to connect with Gen Z through the nostalgia of the 70s, 80s, and 90s?

NATASHA: My son Gabriel is Gen Z with an old soul. His generation craves authenticity, no AI filters, just vinyl, CRT TVs, and hearts. My books reflect that era’s values: friendship, freedom, and adventure. We rode bikes, used our instincts, and trusted magic. VORAKA: What is the one message you hope every reader carries away from your books?

NATASHA: You are capable. If you can see it in your mind, you can hold it in your hand. Believe it. Go for it. Anything is possible—AIP. VORAKA: How do you feel about being featured on the cover of Voraka Magazine, and what does this recognition mean to you?

NATASHA: I’m deeply honored by this full-circle moment, which reminds me that it’s not about the "how," but about purpose. My goal is to impact lives, win a Grammy for the upcoming Wise Marie audiobook, and expand Wazz Cleaning while uplifting my Ohana. I aim to fund the Aloha Jigsaw Foundation through my new partnership with Wazz Cleaning, which was offered to me last month to help save and grow the business. With hopes of Wise Marie becoming a collection that encompasses cinema, TV, and gaming, I’m grateful for this opportunity to inspire others. Mahalo!