Author. Entrepreneur.
Storyteller.
A lifelong connector, creator, and entrepreneur — Shannon has built businesses, cultivated high-level relationships, and transformed personal challenges into a mission-driven body of work.
Shannon Elizabeth Johnson is an award-winning author, entrepreneur, speaker, and creator of the expanding Hooked On Series — a year-after-year collection of books designed to inspire courage, connection, creativity, personal growth, entrepreneurship, and reinvention.
She is the author of Hooked on Networking, a book rooted in her lifelong gift for building relationships, creating opportunities, and connecting people in meaningful ways. Through her work, Shannon has shown that networking is not merely about exchanging business cards or making introductions. It is about listening, recognizing value, opening doors, and understanding that one relationship can change the direction of a life, a business, or a mission.
Shannon is also the creator and author of Hooked on the Wizard of Oz, a modern reimagining designed to inspire courage, creativity, and self-expression in young people. The book has become a cornerstone of her larger mission to restore arts education and help children discover their voice.
Her passion for storytelling is deeply connected to her entrepreneurial journey. Shannon began her career by founding and growing a bookkeeping and tax firm, eventually expanding to multiple offices before selling the business. She later entered the franchise world, where she helped turn around a struggling Dunkin' Donuts location and earned recognition for exceptional growth. Her career has also included work in advertising, real estate investing, publishing, education, and business development.
Across every chapter of her life, Shannon has been known for one consistent strength: she sees possibilities where others see obstacles. Whether building a business, developing a book, creating a course, supporting a philanthropic initiative, or opening doors through networking, she brings vision, determination, and a deep belief in human potential.
After experiencing serious personal and professional challenges, Shannon chose not to let adversity define the rest of her story. Instead, she transformed those experiences into fuel for a larger purpose. Her work now centers on helping others — especially children, families, entrepreneurs, and lifelong learners — recognize their own courage and move forward with confidence.
The Hooked On Series reflects Shannon's belief that readers can become “hooked” on ideas that elevate their lives. From networking and mindfulness to courage, success, history, dance, horses, entrepreneurship, and personal transformation, each title is designed to open a new door of insight and inspiration.
In addition to writing, Shannon is developing educational and mission-driven initiatives connected to her books, including CourAgeOUS — Optimizing Unique Strengths, an evergreen program inspired by Hooked on the Wizard of Oz.
Shannon's message is clear: stories matter. Creativity matters. Courage matters. And when people are given the right words, the right tools, and the right encouragement, they can discover strengths they never realized they had.
Why I Created the Hooked On Series
I created the Hooked On Series because I believe one idea can change the way a person sees themselves.
Throughout my life, I have been hooked on many things — networking, courage, storytelling, reinvention, entrepreneurship, creativity, and the belief that there is always another door waiting to open.
My books are not just titles. They are chapters of a larger mission. Each one is designed to meet the reader in a different place and offer something useful, uplifting, practical, or transformational.
With Hooked on Networking, I wanted to show the power of relationships. With Hooked on the Wizard of Oz, I wanted to create a story that could help young people discover courage and creativity. With the future books in the series, I want to keep expanding that mission year after year.
My goal is simple: to write books that hook people on possibility.
— Shannon Elizabeth Johnson