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Carole Blake has won the 2013 Pandora Award, given annually to a woman for her contribution to publishing.
Blake, the co-founder of the Blake Friedmann literary agency, was selected from a shortlist that also included Reading Agency director Miranda McKearney, Osprey Group c.e.o. Rebecca Smart and Penguin Digital m.d. Anna Rafferty.
Blake told The Bookseller: "I was completely astonished to win. The other women on the shortlist have all done amazing things."
She added: "It never does any harm to talk about women in publishing, they have done a lot of good things over the years. It won't affect what I do though, it will be business as usual, looking after my clients."
Dame Marjorie Scardino won the award, given each year by Women in Publishing, in 2012, while bookcareers.com founder Suzanne Collier won in 2011.
The award is designed to honour "significant and sustained contribution to the publishing industry".
Blake has previously been president of the Association of Authors Agents, and chairman of the Society of Bookman. She is also a lifelong patron and former president of the Book Trade Charity (BTBS). This year she celebrated 50 years in the book industry.