DANVILLE — Barbara Ochoa has had an amazing life — she’s traveled across the world, hobnobbed with celebrities in Los Angeles, written a book about the music business and released several CDs.

“I’ve had a storybook life. But it was time to give back,” Ochoa, formerly of Danville, said.

In 2007, she formed the P. Luna Foundation, a nonprofit group that aims to help male victims of abuse. Proceeds from her book, “The Movie Business,” and her CDs go toward the foundation.

Ochoa, 43, who now lives in San Francisco, was in Danville during the Thanksgiving holiday to visit her parents, Dr. Miguel and Geraldine Ochoa. She attended St. Paul’s School and graduated from Schlarman High School in 1986.

Ochoa is a musician by trade, going by her stage name, Petra Luna. But her life revolves around her foundation. Her nickname is “artist for the abused,” as many of her songs deal with the subject of child abuse.

“I love music, but it’s not what I get up for every day,” she said. “My passion is to help young men.”

The foundation will sponsor the fourth annual Male Abuse Awareness Week, Dec. 1-8. A website — http://www.help4guys.org — has information and resources for male victims of abuse, and accepts donations to help provide therapy for underprivileged males. It’s geared to ages 18-30.

While so many programs focus on female victims, Ochoa noticed that abused boys and young men seldom seek help. Abused males who do not receive therapy often are at higher risk for addictions, violent crime, self-mutilation and suicide. Some of the abused are at risk of becoming abusers, thus perpetuating the cycle of abuse.

Inspired by the cause to fight breast cancer, the foundation’s goal is to make Male Abuse Awareness Week a major cause campaign. The problem is especially noticeable during the holidays, when domestic tensions rise, Ochoa said.

Her book

From 2009 to 2010, Ochoa returned to Danville to take a break from big-city life and to deal with personal issues. She called Danville Area Community College about offering a class about the music business. That proposal fell through, but it sparked another idea.

While preparing for the class, Ochoa realized there was no text book for such a class. Drawing upon her 20 years in the music business, she came up with her own instruction book and had it self-published through http://www.amazon.com.

She described the book as “music business for dummies,” which shows aspiring musicians how to make a living in the business. “It’s a reality book, not ‘let’s be a rock star,’” she said.

The book takes a budding entertainer through all the details. For example, some of the chapter titles include “credits and royalties,” “how to get a gig,” “recording songs and demos,” “getting material for your press pack,” “accounting,” “audition notices,” “insurance” and “contracts for managers.”

Her music

Ochoa graduated from Columbia College in Chicago with a degree in vocal performance and audio engineering/production. While living in Chicago in her 20s, she also worked as a professional model.

In her early 30s, she moved to Los Angeles. Despite the competitive nature of the business, she landed several gigs with well-known musicians and has done session work. She has performed at parties in the million-dollar homes of celebrities.

“Pat Benatar told me I was an awesome singer,” she said. She has met many other celebrities, including Pamela Anderson, Rick Springfield, Britney Spears, Ryan Seacrest and Owen Wilson.

She works with a 10-piece band in L.A., but also enjoys doing jazz clubs and small parties.

She has three CDs out, including her new one, “Part I Angels,” described as easy listening, spiritual music. One of her favorite songs on that CD is “I Love You, Jesus.” Ochoa writes some of her own songs.

Her upcoming CD is “Part II, Angels of the Sword,” which is rap/rock music. It will be released in January.

Ochoa also specializes in foreign languages, and can sing in seven languages.

The business has allowed her to travel extensively, and she has a following on the Internet.

“I’ve had an amazing life,” she said.

FYI

Barbara Ochoa’s book, “The Music Business,” and her CDs (under her stage name of Petra Luna) are available through http://www.amazon.com, and her websites, http://www.petraluna.com and http://plunafoundation.org.

Her website to help male victims of abuse is www.help4guys.org.