Masterful Author Leu Seyer Blends Sci-Fi and Soap Opera Drama in ‘My Buddy Bali: A Tourist in Kisses and Tears’

A 2051 Escape from Toronto

In the futuristic year 2051, a lively seven-month-old Corgi named Bali decided it was time to break free from his home in Toronto, Canada. Eager for independence, he dashed away, oblivious to the hazards outside his familiar walls. Two young pickpockets, who made a living snatching small valuables across the city and fencing them in New York City, soon noticed Bali. Intrigued by his boundless energy and friendly demeanor, they planned to use the unsuspecting pup as a clever distraction.

Yet Bali had his own adventures in mind. Roaming the city’s changing landscape, he found himself face-to-face with the growing consequences of climate change. Extreme weather patterns and disorganized flying vehicles zooming overhead forced him to adapt quickly. Although their futuristic designs were stunning, these air-bound machines presented obstacles and confusion for a small dog on the run. Still, Bali’s determined spirit pushed him forward, fueled by curiosity and a penchant for excitement.

Unforeseen Teleportation and Soap Opera Drama

Bali’s journey took a bizarre turn when he slipped into a home belonging to a group of brilliant scientists. Inside their lab, a teleportation device hummed with untested power. In the midst of his cautious sniffing, Bali accidentally activated the machine. Without warning, he was whisked away to a parallel dimension—yet not before an artificial intelligence microchip left inside the apparatus fused with his canine intellect.

In a surreal twist, Bali materialized within the dramatic universe of a South Korean soap opera called Kisses and Tears. The show originally gained massive popularity in 2042, and a rerun happened to be playing on the television. Completely unaware of human heartbreaks and love triangles, Bali stumbled into scenes filled with tears, confessions, and emotional confrontations. Although baffled by the melodrama’s intensity, his new AI-enhanced mind allowed him to navigate these theatrical twists with surprising agility, cementing his role as a truly out-of-this-world tourist.

Meet the Mind Behind the Pages: Leu Seyer

The remarkable tale of My Buddy Bali: A Tourist in Kisses and Tears sprang from the creative vision of Leu Seyer, a pen name for author Miguel A. Reyes-Mariano. He is the son of the late Civil Engineer Sansón Reyes Castillo and a mother who wore many hats: Literacy Teacher, Cosmetologist, Dressmaker, and Entrepreneur, named Tomasa Mariano Sosa.

Miguel’s passion for writing started early. At just twelve years old, he penned a three-act play titled In Duarte’s Homeland. Four years later, while still in school, he completed a short story called The Bus Back Home, capturing the misadventures of two high school seniors lost within the Dominican Republic’s public transportation system. Encouraged by teachers to use accessible language, he refined his style over time, producing Stress in the US Military Reserve in 2015 and My Buddy Bali in 2024.

Beyond writing, Miguel has spent nearly two decades doing social work, shaping his deep empathy for humanity’s struggles. He also served honorably in the US Navy for 22 years, retiring in 2022. Over the years, he has taken on roles as an Accountant, Comptroller, Teacher, and HR Chief-Deputy of Training at the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic. As of 2025, he is a Counselor at the Erie County Department of Social Services and teaches courses in Spanish linguistics or Public Administration as an Adjunct Instructor.

Real Events and Global Influences

Though My Buddy Bali brims with fantastical elements, the core of the story is rooted in a real-life event. The author’s own Corgi, also named Bali (endearingly called Billy), tragically passed away in an accident. A speeding car, attempting to avoid a larger dog, struck Bali near a barn where the author’s wife kept her jumping horses. Despite her desperate calls to keep Bali close, he and another dog chased the oncoming vehicle, leading to the heartbreaking moment that would inspire a story of love, loss, and transcendent journeys.

Miguel’s wide-ranging life experiences also shaped the narrative’s global perspective. He has visited more than 200 cities across 37 countries on five continents and lived in seven major cities known for their significant attractions and crime statistics—among them locations in Mexico, Brazil, Spain, Italy, the Dominican Republic, Chicago, and New York City. His service during Operation Iraqi Freedom, along with assignments at naval bases in Vieques (Puerto Rico), Rota (Spain), Naples (Italy), and Guantanamo Bay (Cuba), expanded his worldview in profound ways. He even survived attempted robberies in Mexico and New York City, sharpening his awareness of life’s unpredictability.

Additionally, his doctoral studies at the University of Buffalo refined his cosmological perspective, allowing him to blend scholarly theory with imaginative storytelling. By weaving these experiences together, My Buddy Bali: A Tourist in Kisses and Tears stands as both a celebration of wonder and an exploration of personal tragedy, highlighting how a small dog’s adventure can mirror human resilience.

Through Bali’s escapade, the story invites readers to reflect on the delicate balance between progress and preservation, the power of love in the face of loss, and how even the briefest lives can leave an indelible mark on the world.