By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
The idea for Ken Berry's recently-released novel, GOOD COP -- BAD COP, was easy for the Topeka baseball legend to come up with.
But the former American League All-Star and two-time Gold Glove winner hit some pratfalls along the way before closing strong to finish his fourth novel and 11th book overall.
Ken Berry's fourth novel, GOOD COP -- BAD COP, is available now. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
GOOD COP -- BAD COP chronicles the life of Stan Lundy, who inherited $2 million dollars at the age of 12, narrowly avoided service in Viet Nam due to a freak injury at 18 while unknowingly taking part in a $3 million dollar armored car robbery and being targeted for a murder attempt at the age of 21 while serving as a police officer in a small town in Iowa.
"This idea is old,'' Berry said. "I thought I had the whole thing figured out from start to finish but I kept running into roadblocks in the middle where I couldn't get past it. It didn't work for me, it didn't feel right.''
Former American League All-Star Ken Berry appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated with former Yankees star Mickey Mantle in 1967. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Berry, who played 11 years in the Major Leagues for the White Sox, Angels, Brewers and Indians, eventually got the boost he needed after going to a buddy for help.
"I sat down with a banker friend of mine because there's a bank involved and I said, 'Here's the story, here's what has gotten us up to here and how can I get past this?' '' Berry said. "He said, 'Oh, just kill those two guys and move on.' I said, 'You're right!' And that was it.''
"They were guys that you would probably visualize needing to be knocked off eventually, just based on what transpired up to that point, so it was easy once he gave me that. I was off and rolling.''
The completion of GOOD COP -- BAD COP continued the prolific writing career of Berry, who began writing after the end of his playing days and after 26 years as a Minor League coach, manager and roving instructor.
Berry, who continues to give hitting lessons to young athletes, previously released the novels Twin Snipers, COMEBACK and His LAST Run and he has also written children's books Artie the Awesome Apple, Clyde the Clumsy Camel, Barney the Blue Moose, Buster the Beaver Who Wouldn't Brush, Who Gives a Hoot, Happy the Unhappy Horse and X.L. Elephant (Super Agent).
Berry, who turned 82 in May, isn't sure what's next on the horizon, but said there could be more writing in his future.
"I've got another five kids books all ready to go but I'm not ready to get out and hustle to sell them. I've got Rocky The Cocky Rooster and Henry The Hiccuping Hippo and three others besides that,'' he said. "I still like it. I enjoy what I'm doing.''
GOOD COP -- BAD COP can be purchased for $20 by calling 785-633-6837.
