When Bali Broke Free: A Corgi’s Unexpected Odyssey
In the year 2051, a playful seven-month-old Corgi named Bali made the bold choice to break free from his home in Toronto, Canada. Filled with endless energy and curiosity, he bounded away without any thought of the perils he might encounter. As he trotted through the city streets, two young pickpockets caught sight of him and recognized an opportunity. They had been gathering small valuables in Toronto and planned to sell them in New York City, and a lively Corgi seemed like the perfect distraction.
Clashing with Climate and Flight
Bali’s eager paws soon revealed the world’s constant transformation. Climate change had become more apparent than ever, and strange flying vehicles soared haphazardly above, promising a new age of transportation—albeit a chaotic one. He encountered unexpected hardships caused by people’s relentless drive for progress. Despite these obstacles, Bali pressed onward, driven by a blend of courage, naivety, and a dash of luck.
Teleportation Twist
In a bizarre turn of events, Bali wandered into the home of brilliant scientists whose latest invention hummed quietly in the background—a teleportation device with untapped potential. Without meaning to, Bali activated the machine at precisely the wrong moment, sending him careening into a parallel dimension. To complicate matters, an artificial intelligence microchip, left behind in the lab by accident, fused with Bali’s canine mind during teleportation.
Suddenly, he was thrust into the on-screen world of Kisses and Tears, a South Korean melodrama from 2042 that was being re-aired at that exact moment. One moment, Bali was dodging futuristic traffic in Toronto; the next, he found himself in a land of sentimental plot twists and dramatic showdowns. His newly gained AI-influenced awareness enabled him to make sense of tearful love triangles and emotional stand-offs. Despite the unconventional setting, Bali retained his bright disposition, effectively becoming a tourist in a realm of kisses and tears.
The Writer Behind Bali
This extraordinary story is the brainchild of Leu Seyer, a pen name for author Miguel A. Reyes-Mariano. Born to the late Civil Engineer Sansón Reyes Castillo and to Literacy Teacher, Cosmetologist, Dressmaker, and Entrepreneur Tomasa Mariano Sosa, he discovered his passion for storytelling early in life. At just twelve years old, he wrote a three-act play titled In Duarte’s Homeland. Four years later, he tried his hand at prose with The Bus Back Home, a short story about two high school seniors who lost themselves in the Dominican Republic’s complicated public transportation system.
Over time, supportive teachers offered guidance, advising him to keep his writing approachable so that more people could understand and appreciate his tales. Holding this advice close, he later wrote Stress in the US Military Reserve in 2015 and followed it with My Buddy Bali in 2024. Alongside his writing, he spent nearly two decades in social work, further deepening his empathy for the challenges people face every day.
A Naval Career and Counting Numbers
Miguel’s life has been as multifaceted as his creative output. He served in the US Navy for 22 years, retiring honorably in 2022. He also worked as an Accountant, Comptroller, Teacher, and HR Chief-Deputy of Training at the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic. By 2025, he had become a Counselor at the Erie County Department of Social Services. In addition, he took on roles as an Adjunct Instructor at several universities, occasionally teaching Spanish linguistics or Public Administration courses.
A Heartbreaking Reality
While My Buddy Bali features science fiction elements and magical realism, the inspiration behind Bali himself is based on a deeply personal event. The author’s real Corgi, also called Bali (affectionately known as Billy), lost his life after being struck by a speeding car. The incident took place near a barn where the author’s wife kept her jumping horses. Despite her urging Bali to stay put, he rushed forward with another dog to chase an oncoming vehicle. The larger dog escaped harm, but Bali did not. This painful loss and the longing that followed inspired the novel’s emotional heartbeat, blending sorrow with inventive fantasy.
A World of Experiences
Beyond that heartbreaking day, the author’s numerous journeys helped shape the tone and setting of his writing. He has traveled through more than 200 cities across 37 countries on five continents, even residing in seven major metropolitan areas known for both their cultural highlights and crime rates—spanning Mexico, Brazil, Spain, Italy, the Dominican Republic, Chicago, and New York City. His service during Operation Iraqi Freedom, along with posts at naval bases in Vieques (Puerto Rico), Rota (Spain), Naples (Italy), and Guantanamo Bay (Cuba), broadened his global perspective. He also survived two attempted robberies—one in Mexico and another in New York City—experiences that underscored the fragility of life.
Completing doctoral studies at the University of Buffalo added another layer to his worldview, fusing academic insights with creative imagination. In My Buddy Bali: A Tourist in Kisses and Tears, all of these elements come together—adventure, heartache, and hope—reminding readers that even in the strangest corners of existence, a courageous spirit and a bit of wonder can light the way forward.
