About Us

PEN & HONEY BOOKSTORE is a POC woman-owned, SoCal-based indie bookstore and press dedicated to diversifying the literary landscape. Our cultural mosaic of authors and titles is curated alongside a vibrant range of specialty coffees from ethical roasters. We’re equally fueled by stories as we are by caffeine. At our core, we believe in love, aliens, decolonization, and the profound power of books to nurture empathetic connections.

MEET THE FOUNDER

Lupe Mora de Marchante is an international business strategist turned indie bookstore founder. As a first-generation Mexican-American woman, 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 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 the aftermath of divorce 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 & Press

CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS:

As a mission-driven business, we prioritize giving back to contribute to a more equitable and compassionate world. We donate a portion of our earnings to organizations that uplift marginalized communities and increase access to literature through our book recycling program.

As of 2025, we have donated books and/or financial contributions to the following organizations:

  • Human Concern International

  • House of Ruth

  • Maui United Way

  • Wear The Peace

  • Riverside County Child Support Services

  • Celebration Nation

  • La Verne Parent Participation Preschool

  • Inland Empire Women’s Business Center

  • Fontana Unified School District