Meet Author Jessica Speart, Our Kind of Kick-Ass Gal...

...and her protagonist Rachel Porter, critter crusader extraordinaire.

Oy vey! Holy NRA! In Jessica Speart's Rachel Porter series, Rachel, a former New Yorker, is a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Special Agent. She and her in-your-face attitude take on the system and good "ole" boys in every part of the country to halt wildlife abuse and animal smuggling.

Being smart, determined, and courageous, Rachel isn't afraid to take on anyone or anything, whether it's her boss, the bad guys, or romance, where sexy New Orleans Detective Jake Santou adds a steamy Cajun flavor to her life. And, as Rachel isn't capable of investigating an ant farm without murder and mayhem following, each investigation is crammed full of action and intrigue. Well researched wildlife crimes add grittiness and realism to the crisply written series.

And, even though the always interesting plots are compelling, the series' humor, similar to Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series, makes the books outstanding. Rachel's dry wit and the sheer physical comedy from one outlandish situation to the next will keep the reader off balance if not chuckling. Each book's different geographic location is flavored with colorful, original regional characters, providing exceptional entertainment! Speart's rich writing satisfies on many levels. Reading about Rachel's exploits in this zany series is a positive, empowering experience.

The Rachel series starts with GATOR AIDE, set in sultry New Orleans. There, after being the "duck cop" of the swamps, Rachel moves up to investigating a dead alligator's being chained to a bathtub next to a dead prostitute, which ultimately involves murder, heroin, neo-Nazis, and crooked politicians. Next, Rachel is posted to Las Vegas in TORTOISE SOUP. There the locals label her a "Fascist and Weirdo Service Agent" as she investigates the disappearance of endangered tortoises, all the while being targeted for extinction herself. In BIRD BRAINED, she investigates animal smuggling in Miami, which leads to cobra attacks, Skunk Ape (Bigfoot's Southern cousin) reports, and the illegal arms trade. BORDER PREY takes Rachel to the El Paso/New Mexico border with Mexico where she investigates the illegal primate trade; however, like her previous cases, nothing is ever simple. She ends up battling everything from vultures to mad scientists.

Like Rachel, Speart herself is a creative, interesting person who's concerned about wildlife as recounted in the following interview:

What is your background?

I started out as an actress. In fact, I began studying Shakespeare and classical theatre at the age of thirteen with dreams of appearing on Broadway. Funny how one's plans tend to go awry. I came to NY trained to the teeth only to wind up doing Tupperware, Gallo Wine and Old Milwaukee Beer commercials. Then there were industrial training films. Finally, I landed a recurring role on a soap opera as a rather bitchy head nurse.

When did you first know that you wanted to be a writer?

I didn't know that I wanted to be a writer until I was actually working as one. My character on One Life To Live was killed off by a mad scientist with a fake arm -- and people think my characters are wacky! There are those who shop when they're depressed. I blow my money on trips to exotic locales. I decided the best thing to do was to take a trip out of town - far out of town. I went to Africa and fell in love. No, Santou wasn't there. I was blown away by the landscape and wildlife. At the same time, I was appalled at the amount of poaching going on. Killing elephants for their ivory tusks was at an all-time high. I came back determined to try and do something. The question was, what? I didn't want to head back to school for another degree. And I wasn't ready to trade in my rent stabilized NY apartment for a 'me Tarzan, you Jane' sarong. So, I wrote an article on the plight of endangered species and sold it to Omni Magazine. Before I quite knew what had happened I was working as an investigative journalist specializing in articles on endangered species for publications such as National Wildlife, Mother Jones, Travel & Leisure, Wildlife Conservation and The New York Times Sunday Magazine.

What is your favorite reading material?

You mean besides anything by Katy Munger, Lauren Henderson or Sparkle Hayter? I tend to jump around when it comes to what I read. I recently finished The Poet by Michael Connelly and loved it. I'm also a big fan of James Lee Burke and Carl Hiaasen. I enjoy Peter Matthiessen's novels as well, from The Snow Leopard, to Killing Mister Watson. Then I'll switch over to a travel writer like Paul Theroux who is able to vicariously whisk me away on a train ride through China.

How did you come up with the concept of Rachel as a wildlife agent?

Rachel was born out of my own frustration after years of doing stories about US Fish and wildlife special agents and seeing the odds that they are constantly up against. I also began to learn about the problems that exist within the Service, itself. Add on to that the fact that the law enforcement division of The USFWS is an 'old boy network,' and then throw a gung-ho female agent into the mix. It all came to a head after I spent two weeks slogging through the bayous of Louisiana. It was there that I met poachers who had made big bucks off the illegal wildlife trade and never received more than a slap on the wrist from local judges. I didn't plan to write a series. My first book, Gator Aide, was simply my own form of catharsis in the face of so much injustice.

Is Rachel modeled after anyone in particular?

Okay. I'll fess up. Rachel is my alter ego. We both have a tendency to act first and think later, and will go to almost any length to uncover information that we want. The major difference is that Rachel is taller, can eat junk food without gaining weight, and never has to grow all that much older -- all qualities of which I'm truly envious.

Is Jake Santou modeled after anyone?

Jake Santou is the hot guy that every female lusts after. He's that magnetic type of man who need only take only look at a woman to be able to read her heart, and know exactly how to satisfy her. In other words, he's pure fiction.

How do you come up with the colorful characters that surround Rachel?

Hmm. Those colorful characters! Sometimes even I wonder where they come from. The way I work is to spend time in the area that I'm writing about in order to immerse myself in those qualities that make it unique. I've discovered that the inhabitants of each locale are equally unique. My characters are a compilation of many people. I think it must stem from my theatre background. I've always had a real love for characters. I just find them to be more interesting to spend time with. The fun is to see which ones push themselves to the forefront of each story. I'm always surprised by who that turns out to be.

Why do you change the setting with each novel?

The reason that I started writing The Rachel Porter Series was to bring the plight of wildlife to the public's attention in a fun and interesting way. By changing the setting, I can focus on an assortment of endangered species that inhabit different parts of the US. I also love having the ability to view an area in depth for the first time. Rachel is somewhat of a loner. This way she's always that stranger in a strange land who is able to see things with a unique perspective.

Of the many wildlife problems, how do you choose one for a novel?

The way I choose a location and species for each book has changed as I've gone along. The first two books, Gator Aide and Tortoise Soup, evolved out of magazine assignments. These days, I learn of ongoing problems through my contact with environmental and wildlife organizations Usually one will pique
my interest and I'll begin doing massive amounts of reading and research. Then I'll head out into the field.

Which is your favorite Rachel book?

Asking which is my favorite Rachel book is a veritable 'Sophie's Choice.' I have a strong tie to all of them. Each conjures up memories of something unusual and wonderful that took place - whether it's getting into a cage with mountain lions and boa constrictors in Florida for Bird Brained. Or learning the art of tracking from a legendary tracker for The Border Patrol in the Chihuahua Desert.

What will your next book be about?

The next book, tentatively titled Black Delta Night, finds Rachel stationed in Memphis and the Mississippi Delta - land of heart throbbing blues, barbecue, Graceland and Elvis. The countryside is not only filled with mystery and magic but organized crime, where Rachel finds herself immersed in trouble as dark and dangerous as the Mississippi River.

Kay McClellan, an avid mystery reader, is an Assistant Professor of English at South Plains College in Levelland, TX., and lives in Lubbock, TX. Thus far, she's a pretty well-behaved young lady -- but we are pretty confident we can convert her to Tartdom by year-end.