Arlington author David Luna finds hope and healing in Toby’s Tale

Story by Kristen Tribe

This issue, 360West sat down with author David Luna

“Toby’s Tale” is not simply a tribute to a beloved family pet. It’s a story of finding love in unexpected places and understanding that families come in all shapes and sizes.

When Toby, a feisty Boston Terrier, dashed into David and Desiree Luna’s lives, they had no idea the scrappy pup would imprint on their hearts and teach them the meaning of family. The threesome quickly bonded, and when Toby suddenly died in 2022, David sought comfort in writing.

He penned a story about a high-energy puppy with a scruffy sense of adventure who escapes the shelter. Embracing freedom, sunshine and new smells, he makes new friends who help him find his way back to the safety of the shelter and, eventually, his forever family.

Luna, who lives in Arlington, says that even though “Toby’s Tale” is a picture book, its story of courage and patience will resonate with adults, too.

“It’s for every wild heart waiting to be loved exactly as they are,” Luna says. “There’s always hope, and a little bit of faith goes a long way in finding that forever family.”

360West: Before we talk about the book, can you tell me about yourself and how you became a writer?

David Luna: I grew up in Los Angeles, California, and when I was younger, I entered writing contests at school and actually won a few. But I never thought, “I want to be a writer.” I ended up going into supply chain and did that for 22 years. My wife, our dogs and I moved to Texas in 2019, and in 2024, I found myself unemployed. While looking for a new job, I needed something to occupy my mind, and my neighbor invited me to the DFW Writers Workshop. I got the writing bug again, and what was originally an idea for me and my family — a novel inspired by our Boston Terrier, Toby — spiraled into a children’s story, “Toby’s Tale.”

360West: How did Toby come into your life?

Luna: Toby was a rescue that we adopted. My wife, Desiree, and I had been married about two years and were living in Whittier, California, when we decided to go to a pet adoption day in Los Angeles. We arrived early, while they were still setting up, and Toby happened to be one of the first dogs they let out. We immediately wanted to meet him. He was a little rough around the edges, and you could tell he’d been in some mischief. He had some scars and cuts on his body. He was definitely a scrappy little dog, and my wife instantly fell in love with him. I wasn’t prepared at the time to adopt a dog, but after paying the adoption fees and buying everything he needed, he was on his way home with us.

360West: How did Toby endear himself to your family?

Luna: My parents and my grandmother fell in love with him. He would go in and sit with her while she was reading or crocheting. Even my mother-in-law, who absolutely despises dogs, loved him. Unfortunately, in 2022, Toby ended up succumbing to what we can only assume was a brain tumor, and it happened very quickly. One day he was fine, and the next day he was pretty much gone. It was traumatic and incredibly jarring for our family.

360West: What do you hope readers take away from “Toby’s Tale”?

Luna: The story advocates for adoption. It’s the idea that the family dynamic isn’t defined by blood. Sometimes it can be a person or an animal, or just someone or something you choose to love unconditionally, and that can give that same love and support back. You might not know their whole story, where they’ve come from or how they lived the first part of their life, but you, as a human being, can be a bright light in their future. I think a lot of people miss the idea that it’s really about unconditional love. You have to look beyond those hard days and see the good and blessings that come from the new relationship.

360West: Where can readers buy your book?

Luna: Books can be purchased directly from This Random Guy Publishing or on Amazon and eBay.

360West: Are you writing anything now?

Luna: I’m still working on the novel about Toby, and my second children’s book, “Gizmo the Pirate,” about our second Boston Terrier, will be out this Christmas. I’m also working on a third children’s book that will hopefully come out next year.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR