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Stephanie Dean, a Greenville-based fiction author, has been named a 2025 Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite in the Fantasy category for her novel “The Mystic Vial.” The honor places Dean among a select group of finalists chosen from authors worldwide.

“I entered ‘The Mystic Vial’ into the competition and a couple of months ago, I got an email saying, ‘Congratulations,’” Dean said. “I was so excited. Authors from all over the world submitted work for this, and I was one of eight finalists in the fantasy genre. I still can’t believe I won.”

To celebrate her achievement, Dean and her sister, Hilary Shirley, are embarking on a cross-country road trip from New Mexico to New Jersey, where she will receive her award at a formal ceremony on May 3. The event includes a red carpet walk and a banquet, during which Dean will be presented with a certificate and medal.

“My sister Hilary and I will be taking a fun road trip from her home in New Mexico to New Jersey for the ceremony,” Dean said. “We’re going to take our time and try to see a lot of the sites along the way.”

Dean, originally from Willard, New Mexico, now resides in Greenville where her husband settled after retiring from the military. Her novels include “Abby and the Fabulous Clubhouse” and “Buster’s Braces,” both of which were inspired by life in Greenville.

“The Mystic Vial” tells the story of Chloe, a young woman who inherits a mysterious vial from her grandmother. When she accidentally releases a curse, her family is transformed, and danger begins to unfold within their own home. As her uncle and his husband plot to claim her grandmother’s fortune, Chloe must find a way to break the spell before it’s too late.

The sisters’ journey to New Jersey will be more than just a straight drive — they plan to turn it into an adventure.

“I’m really excited to see the northeastern part of the country for the first time. I’ve been in New Mexico my whole life,” said Hilary. “There’s a few places we want to see, but we’re really just going to take our time and see where the trip takes us. There’s no schedule really, as long as we reach Newark in time.

“We are spending a day in New York and we’re going to go see a Broadway show,” Shirley said. “Also, since the event is Black Tie, we’re going dress shopping. Just getting away is going to be wonderful — going on a trip, just the two of us. It’s going to be so much fun.”

Future copies of The Mystic Vial will feature a banner on the cover acknowledging its status as an Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite. The book is available at bookstores nationwide and online through Apple iTunes, Amazon, Google Play and Barnes & Noble.

Dean is also in the process of organizing a meet-and-greet book signing in Greenville, giving local fans a chance to celebrate her success.

“I’m so proud of her, there’s not even words,” Shirley said. “She’s overcome a lot to succeed and this is just the icing on the cake.”