Speaker · Author · Happy

Phillip
D. Cortez

"Every face tells a story, and every story deserves to be told."

Phillip D. Cortez is an award-winning author and speaker from El Paso, Texas. His book I'll Be The Moon won the International Latino Book Award. He speaks on happiness, Social Emotional Learning, and the power of storytelling. Father of four. Born and raised in El Paso.

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El Paso, Texas

Speaking

Stories that
move rooms.

International Latino Book Award-winning author Phillip D. Cortez speaks to schools, community organizations, and conferences about storytelling, happiness, Social Emotional Learning, and the power of owning your own narrative.

Tell Your Story

Every person carries a story worth telling. This talk is about why owning your narrative changes everything — for kids, adults, and communities.

The Happy Manifesto

Three practical rules for building happier students, happier classrooms, and happier lives. Based on the 2018 book.

Social Emotional Learning

How story, empathy, and emotional vocabulary change outcomes for students — and what parents and educators can do to support it.

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The Blog

The Better Than
Good Blog.

Essays on parenting, happiness, storytelling, and the unexpected lessons that come from paying attention. Published on Substack — free to read, free to share.

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Speaking Inquiry

Let's talk about
your event.

Fill out the form below and Phillip will get back to you within 48 hours. He speaks to schools, community organizations, parent groups, educator conferences, and corporate events.

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Phillip reads every message and responds within 48 hours. Or email directly at pdomico@yahoo.com

"I was always making up stories to try and get out of trouble anyway. But that sort of comes with the territory when you've got four brothers."

Phillip Dominic Cortez was born in El Paso, Texas, where he became fascinated with books and stories at a very early age. It wasn't long before he wanted to write his own.

He began his career as a freelance sports writer, writing stories for his local paper before moving on to editorials and feature stories for different publications. His children's book Night Rhythms was published in 2011, followed by When I Close My Eyes in 2013 and Ava & the "Monsters" in 2015.

In 2016 he added Pancakes For Dinner! to his catalog. In 2018, Cortez turned his attention to Social Emotional Learning with #TheHappyManifesto — Three Rules For Happier Students, which led to the launch of The Better Than Good Blog in 2019. His most recent work — I'll Be The Moon and its Spanish-language edition Seré la luna — tells the story of a migrant child's journey with tenderness and power. I'll Be The Moon is an International Latino Book Award winner.

He lives in El Paso with his wife Patty and their four children: Ivan, Cameron, Ava, and Zoe. He is still fascinated, daily, by the many stories they tell.

Get in Touch

Let's start
a conversation.

For speaking inquiries, book signings, media, or just to say hello — reach out directly. Phillip reads every message.

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PhillipD. Cortez

Stories thatmove rooms.

Books that startconversations.

The Better ThanGood Blog.

Let's talk aboutyour event.

Let's starta conversation.

Phillip
D. Cortez

Stories that
move rooms.

Books that start
conversations.

The Better Than
Good Blog.

Let's talk about
your event.

Let's start
a conversation.