New Jelly Bryce Book!

[mc5aw]

Mr. Conti ... In your research, did you ever come across comments from Bryce about the purported "fast draw" photo of him and Bill Jordan?

 

[Mike Conti]

Mr. Conti, with all due respect to you as a published author whose work is complimented by folks of the likes of Mr. Ayoob: Would you care to expound on your choice to make this a novel instead of a biography, and to comment on any efforts you made to portray Mr. Bryce's exploits as they truly occurred and without fictionalizing that would confuse, and perhaps even introduce an element of question into, portions of his legacy? (These are what appear to be the concerns of those, including me, who wonder why your book was done as a novel instead of a biography.)



Thank you for the question, Sir.

Let me respond to this by first stating that I completely understand your question and concerns regarding this book.

I agonized for quite a while over my approach to this project. While I never considered writing another biography about Delf Bryce because I feel that Ron Owens' book was extremely well-done and I could do no better, I did consider writing a novel about a character based on Mr. Bryce, but using a different name as has been suggested in a previous post on this thread.

For those who may be interested, I will be glad to list the reasons I decided not to go this route but to write about the man using his real name and following the general trajectory of his life.

First, Jelly Bryce and many of the other lawmen of his time were not only extremely interesting characters, but they were real people as well. As I read and learned more about them and their experiences, I came to see them as people with similarities to myself and many police officers I have known.

Bryce in particular was of interest to me because of his story. He was no Hollywood-created killing machine. He was an Oklahoma boy raised in a wild part of the country who eventually—through sheer hard work and natural ability—created a career and life for himself in an exceedingly dangerous and often complicated occupation.

Many of the threads of Bryce's life that Ron Owens managed to pick up through the cobwebs of time and secrecy indicated that in addition to being a complex and highly-intelligent man, Bryce, like many of us, most likely also suffered from the stresses of his occupation and life in general. This is not to diminish him or his reputation in any way. To the contrary, to do what he was able to do and in the way he did it reveals a man who, though blessed with phenomenal eyesight and an above-average dedication to perfecting his martial skills, was in essence a normal human being who could adapt to and overcome abnormal situations and obstacles to achieve what he did. But undoubtedly, this came with a cost.

My hope in writing a fictionalized version of his actual story was that through him, I could provide a glimpse into the mind and lives of police officers both then and now. Obviously, there are few records of the actual conversations he had and relationships he maintained, but again, there are many indications that these were greatly influenced and affected by his experiences as first, an Oklahoma City Policeman, and later, as an Agent of the FBI.

I based the linear storyline as closely to his actual experiences as I could, though naturally, as it is a work of fiction, I used many other resources to construct the plot, conversations, events, etc. Much of the plot follows the oft-told legends instead of the evidence as Owens' book uncovered it. Some of the conversations are almost word-for-word conversations that I have had during the years with fellow cops. Even with this, I have been told by people who knew Bryce personally that my portrayal of him is accurate. While pleased, I am not surprised by this. In my experience with good police officers (having been raised by one, lived as one for 24+ years, and having worked closely with many others from a variety of departments across the US, Canada and overseas), I have always found a number of striking similarities in the personalities of those who love the job and do their best to honor it and the tremendous responsibilities that come with the badge.

And that leads me to the main reason I chose to write a novel about Jelly Bryce's life. I wanted his story to be told from that perspective. From the perspective of a good cop, who looks at the job more as a calling than an occupation. This is the perspective the vast majority of police officers I have known and worked closely with have had. After studying all the evidence available about Jelly Bryce, I am convinced that that was his perspective as well.

Finally, since Jelly Bryce was a public figure, and a high-profile one at that, anyone could have (and can) write about him. He has already been portrayed in a few other fictional publications, by people who may mean well but have no basis of knowledge/experience from which to write. As such, these characterizations tend to be rather superficial. Hollywood also tends to treat people like Bryce, Charles Winstead, and other lawmen of the time like supporting players while they drool over and glamorize the vicious criminals like Dillinger and Bonnie and Clyde. I have tried to do otherwise.

My hope is that people find the story entertaining, and that while being entertained, they also come to see police officers—from the legendary officers of yesteryear to those being pilloried today by the media and some segments of our society—not as creatures alien to themselves, but simply as people who have taken on the responsibility to do full-time what is ideally the responsibility of all members of a civilized society: Keep the peace. Protect the innocent. Follow the laws of the land.

Do all police officers do this without exception? Certainly not, and I make no claims to the contrary.

Do all people do this? Of course not. If they did, there would be no need for the police.

That's what makes the police profession challenging and life in general interesting. The struggle between good and evil, right and wrong. That, in essence, is what my Jelly Bryce trilogy is about. If you do read it, I'd really love to hear your thoughts.

 

[Mike Conti]

Mr. Conti ... In your research, did you ever come across comments from Bryce about the purported "fast draw" photo of him and Bill Jordan?

For what it's worth, I personally believe that if the photo you're referring to is from Jordan's NO SECOND PLACE WINNER (page 56), that it does not picture Bryce next to Jordan.

The face, stance, grip all appear different, things we used to call "clues" in police work, but not conclusive evidence .

While I have nothing documented from Bryce or Jordan to support my belief, I have also never seen any evidence to indicate that it is Bryce.

Many years ago I actually had a telephone conversation with Bill Jordan which was one of the highlights of my early LE career. If I'd only had the foresight I would have asked him then! Unfortunately, I'd never even heard of Bryce until the late 1990's, after Jordan had passed.

 

[Mike Conti]

All due respect to Mr. Taylor as well; however, we have to be understandably questioning of the comments of the publisher of the book who, after all, is unlikely to say anything negative about it and would be expected to be effusive in his praise.

At the risk of wearing out my welcome on this forum, and in the interest of full-disclosure, I would like to clarify that I am the publisher and owner of Saber Press. I also sweep up the place.

Mr. Taylor, a WW2 Veteran and character worthy of his own book, has been a friend and supporter for many years, and has tried to take up the slack in getting the word out on my books/projects. Like many authors, I enjoy the writing but not the selling/promoting.

The Smith & Wesson Forum seems like home, though. I enjoy the information and discussions greatly, and appreciate everyone's courtesy and interest.

I would make a request though, please call me Mike.

 

[vigil617]

Thank you for the question, Sir.

And thank you for such a quality answer, Mike.

You obviously have the chops -- both as a writer and an experienced officer -- to write about a man of the stature of Jelly Bryce, and to do it with an insight into the man that will add to, not detract from, our understanding of him as an officer, an agent, and most of all, as a human being.

I'll be right proud to read your book.

 

[vigil617]

At the risk of wearing out my welcome on this forum, and in the interest of full-disclosure, I would like to clarify that I am the publisher and owner of Saber Press. I also sweep up the place.

Mr. Taylor, a WW2 Veteran and character worthy of his own book, has been a friend and supporter for many years, and has tried to take up the slack in getting the word out on my books/projects. Like many authors, I enjoy the writing but not the selling/promoting.

The Smith & Wesson Forum seems like home, though. I enjoy the information and discussions greatly, and appreciate everyone's courtesy and interest.

I would make a request though, please call me Mike.

And thanks for the clarification here, too, Mike. Please give my regards to Mr. Taylor along with my thanks and admiration for his service.

 

[Mike Conti]

Just an update on the Jelly Bryce Trilogy I've been working on...

Part 2, FBI ODYSSEY is now available in paperback and on Kindle. More information is available at www.jellybryce.com

Very best regards,
Mike Conti