About Us

MEET THE FOUNDER

Lupe Mora de Marchante is an international business strategist turned indie bookstore founder. She built a career in international market expansion for consumer goods, leveraging her multilingual background and the resilience forged through her hard-fought upbringing. She led global initiatives, shaped brand strategies, and secured exclusive distribution contracts in Ecuador, France, and India. From on-site product development in China to navigating creative and compliance efforts, she played a key role in launching brands on the international stage.

A Southern California native and Mexican-American first-generation college graduate, Lupe earned an English degree with a minor in Political Science from Texas State University—all while overcoming the immense challenges of single motherhood as a teenager. Yet, despite a thriving corporate career and global travels, her perspective shifted when she self-published a memoir-style book to process and unearth long-buried traumas. Writing became a catalyst for transformation, redefining her priorities and deepening her commitment to self-love and intentionality. In pursuit of something more meaningful, Lupe left the corporate world to create Pen & Honey Bookstore.

In pursuit of sharing book joy and expanding the bookstore’s impact, Lupe joined the Entreprenista League in 2025.

Logo for Entrepreneurial League with pink and purple text on black background.

IMPACT INITIATIVES

As a mission-driven company, we prioritize giving back in ways that extend beyond the books we shelve. Our purpose is to contribute to a more equitable and compassionate world, and we invest in community well-being as part of our ongoing commitment to meaningful impact—locally and beyond. To sustain this effort, we’ve tied our exclusive coffee blend, Librosioso, to our Books & Sueños Scholarship, with 20% of every bag sold going directly toward the scholarship. Awarded annually to students from marginalized backgrounds, the scholarship pairs monetary support with thoughtfully selected books that nurture both personal growth and practical life skills.

As of 2026, we have donated books and/or financial contributions to the following organizations:

  • Human Concern International

  • House of Ruth

  • Riverside County Child Support Services

  • Celebration Nation

  • La Verne Parent Participation Preschool

  • Inland Empire Women’s Business Center

  • Fontana Unified School District

  • Inlandia Institute