Shannon was born in New York City and grew up most of her life in Los Angeles. She earned her Bachelor's in English and Theater at Princeton University and studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Shannon now resides in Los Angeles most of the time, working in theatre and film as an actress and writer. Two of her screenplays have ranked in the top 15% for the Nicholl Fellowship competition at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, and a third placed as a Quarterfinalist. An avid outdoors-woman, Shannon fills most of her vacation time with backpacking or sailing trips.