When I start something I intend to finish it, no matter how long it takes.

The genesis of Unhappy White Girls, the graphic novella I'm working on with artists Triska Tsang and Vivian Lee, was at a convention in Detroit way back in 2005. A girl that was waiting on me at this roadside diner seemed incredibly bored and unhappy. I made up a imaginary back story for her, trying to ascertain what situations would lead her to such a place. An idea was born and I scribbled the title down on a napkin I wish I still had today.

I wrote the first draft of the script in a flurry of words and ideas right after I moved to Los Angeles in July of 2005. I sat at the end of a bed and typed because that was the only comfortable spot in the one bedroom apartment I was sharing with 3 other people. The story ended up being only 48 pages but the road to get those pages done and the book out to the public has been a long, arduous, but thankfully rewarding one -- and it's still going!

There was something kinetic about those days when I was writing. I was drawing inspiration from several trips I had taken driving through the desert -- the New Mexico landscape with it's reds, browns and oranges fresh in my mind. There was something about that place, it's towns dotted along the highway... Trailer parks popping up along dried out riverbeds.

New Mexico felt like a home to someone who may look in the distance and wonder what lies beyond sand and mountains. I used to feel that way while trying to imagine what existed beyond cornfields and rolling bluffs and creeks filled with craw fish. There's this sense of quiet urgency when you live in a small, closed off place like that. You know the world is out there, you see it in movies, tv and now on your iPads... but there is always this drive to want to do something. And sadly, in towns like Nowhere, New Mexico and the one I grew up in -- there is not much to do.

Except hope. Hope for something to happen and for life to be something worth living. And that's one of the themes of Unhappy White Girls.

It has been a long road. Much has changed since 2005 but this story has always stayed with me. I have been fortunate to find allies along the way and they will be acknowledged, for I could not have done it without them. I hope that I may earn your trust so that you too may become an ally.

This is a story about those who are forming dreams against incredible odds. It's about ordinary girls living out an extraordinary day -- the decisions they make will guide the course of the rest of their lives.

Thank you for your consideration and may the road treat you kindly.

Hey all, we're in the final 24 hours now. It's been an exciting ride that is going to go down to the wire. We thank our Backers for being on board! And if you're a fan of the project we'd love your support. You can also help by sending the news on to friends who may enjoy the book.

Here's our press release -- feel free to copy and paste! Thanks! --Christian

Unhappy White Girls is a graphic novel project making a difference, and addressing real-world issues -- or it can be, if the Kickstarter project gets the support it needs by the June 15 deadline. Launched by Christian Beranek, co-creator of Dracula vs. King Arthur, Unhappy White Girls is the story of Tish and Branna, two teenage girls coming to terms with their own secrets throughout the course of one turbulent day.

Beranek recruited illustrators Triska Tsang and Vivian Lee from Brooklyn, NY, to provide the art and bring the characters to life. "Triska and Vivian really understand how to convey emotion via the page," says Beranek. "From the slightest glance to frustration and tears, they capture the teenage condition."

But Unhappy White Girls isn't just another graphic novel -- it has a greater purpose to raise awareness about teen pregnancy and LGBT issues. If the project meets its $6,000 goal by June 15 via Kickstarter, a site that allows people to raise funds for creative endeavors, Beranek and his team will complete production on the novella, with all remaining funds and proceeds being used to promote awareness regarding these social concerns. Once the Unhappy White Girls Facebook page reaches 5,000 fans, Beranek will also donate $1,000 to St. Anne's, one of the most highly-regarded social services agencies in Los Angeles, providing targeted programs and support services in response to the ever-changing needs of today's society.

"The reason I am using Kickstarter is that Unhappy White Girls has been a passion project of mine for many years," says Beranek. "I started working on it in 2005 after I was at a convention in Detroit. I was at a diner and said to my friend who was sitting with me, 'Our waitress is one unhappy white girl.' Right there I knew I had a title and an idea sparked."

Helping out this long-time project is not without perks, either. For backers that pledge through Kickstarter, Beranek and team offer a series of rewards, from behind-the-scenes artwork and development material to a private dinner with Beranek and a graphic novel seminar in your hometown.

For more information on Unhappy White Girls please visit http://kck.st/du4aFW