Harare — SEASONED Zimbabwean book publisher Irene Staunton of Weaver Press was recently shortlisted for the 2009 PEN/Studzinski Literary Award for her short story Pauline's Ghost.

Staunton -- who founded Weaver Press 11 years ago -- has to date published numerous books by some of the country's leading authors such as Shimmer Chinodya, Charles Mungoshi, Wonder Guchu, among others.

Not much of her writing has been talked about only until recently when she joined United States-based Zimbabwean author, NoViolet M, in the shortlist category.

Staunton's shortlisted story was also published in New Writing From Africa 2009.

The writers featured in the anthology are from countries such as Algeria, Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda, Kenya, Zambia, Mauritius, Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Some of the famous books that Staunton has edited and published are Writing Now, Writing Still and Laughing Now.