Behind Every Story
ABOUT ME
Hi, I’m Carly Quinn—a Virtual Assistant who supports authors, podcasters, and creative professionals with research, project management, and behind-the-scenes logistics.
As a professional historian with a background in publishing, podcasting, and museum work, I bring a thoughtful, detail-driven, and hyper-organized approach to helping people tell powerful stories.
I created Behind Every Story while working at Penguin Random House, where several authors reached out to me for research assistance, given my background as a historian.
Whilst helping these authors craft their characters and the narrative based upon the historical information I found, I was astonished at just how much time they spent each day on administrative tasks rather than on writing.
I realized I could utilize my skillset to help other creators protect their time and mental energy so that they could focus more on doing what they loved!
EXPERIENCE
Publishing
I have worked at Penguin Random House Audio for over 3 years, where I manage audiobook licensing for over 800 titles annually. In this role, I work with over 30 international publishers, coordinating with editors, authors, producers, agents, marketers, and publicists to ensure timely audiobook delivery.
Known for being highly organized, I excel at managing inboxes, juggling complex schedules, and keeping projects on track, using a variety of CRM tools and automated processes I've created using Excel, Mail Merge, Smartsheet, FMP, and SAP.
Podcasting
I co-create The Exploress, a narrative women’s history podcast with over a million downloads and a loyal global audience that blends immersive storytelling with rigorous research.
In addition to conducting research and drafting episode scripts, I book and schedule interview guests, manage our Squarespace website, handle backend operations using tools like Riverside, Libsyn, and Patreon, track performance metrics, audience engagement, and support growth strategy.
Project Management
At the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, I managed the ticketing system for over 2,000 daily visitors, coordinated VIP and group reservations, managed the Visitor Services inbox and website, and produced data-driven reports to support operational strategy.
At the National Humanities Alliance, I coordinated Humanities Advocacy Day, scheduling over 190 congressional meetings for 200+ advocates across all 50 states, managing logistics across time zones, and overseeing congressional outreach using tools like Google Workspace, Zoom, Airtable, and LegiStorm.
Research
I have a Master's degree in Public History from Northeastern University, where I specialized in Cold War espionage. I excel at tracking down hard-to-find sources, conducting thorough research, and concisely summarizing large quantities of scholarly information to make it accessible and engaging for the public.
I have also worked in the archival and curatorial departments of leading cultural institutions, including the Harvard Museums, the Museum of Science, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and the Mark Twain House & Museum.
HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
✍️ Content & Storytelling – I can draft newsletters, create marketing and social media copy, edit your writing, or shape your narrative so your ideas land clearly.
📖 Research Support – I can conduct in-depth research, then summarize it into key insights to inform your plotline, project, or strategy.
🎤 Digital & Audio Production – I can book guests for your podcast, coordinate recording schedules, create metadata, track analytics, and polish episodes for release.
📅 Project & Event Coordination – I can plan timelines, track deadlines, schedule events, book travel arrangements, and handle the details that keep your project moving forward.
🤝 Partnerships & Business Development – I can identify potential collaborators, manage outreach, and help you grow your network or brand.
🗂️ Administrative Support – I can manage your inbox, schedule meetings, and organize your calendar so you can focus on the big picture.