The Time of My Life

An entertaining and inspiring behind-the-scenes look at a Hollywood life and a remarkable love, told in the words of beloved actor Patrick Swayze and his wife, Lisa Niemi, shortly before he passed away.

In a career spanning more than thirty years, Patrick Swayze made a name for himself on the stage and screen with his versatility, passion, and fearlessness. Always a fighter, Patrick refused to let the diagnosis of stage IV pancreatic cancer in February 2008 defeat him. Patrick and Lisa’s bravery inspired legions of fans, cancer patients, and their loved ones, yet this memoir, written with wisdom and heart, recounts so much more. Revealed in vivid detail is Patrick’s Texas upbringing, his personal struggles, his rise to fame, and how his soul mate Lisa stood by his side through it all.

The Time of My Life opens the door for families, individuals, and husbands and wives to grow, bond, and discover entirely new levels of love and sharing, proving that life shouldn’t be lived as a series of endings, but rather as the beginning of greater strength and love.

In a career spanning more than thirty years, Patrick Swayze has made a name for himself on the stage, the screen, and television. Known for his versatility, passion and fearlessness, he's become one of our most beloved actors.

But in February 2008, Patrick announced he had been diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer. Always a fighter, he refused to let the disease bring him to his knees, and his bravery has inspired both his legion of fans and cancer patients everywhere. Yet this memoir, written with wisdom and heart, recounts much more than his bout with cancer. In vivid detail, Patrick describes his Texas upbringing, his personal struggles, his rise to fame with North and South, his commercial breakthroughs in Dirty Dancing and Ghost, and the soul mate who's stood by his side through it all: his wife, writer and director Lisa Niemi.

A behind-the-scenes look at a Hollywood life and a remarkable love, this memoir is both entertainment and inspiration. Patrick and Lisa's marriage is a journey of two lives intertwined and lived as one--throughout their years in Hollywood and at home on their working ranch outside Los Angeles, and culminating in the hope and wisdom they've imparted to all who know them. This book will open the door for families, individuals, and husbands and wives to grow, bond and discover entirely new levels of love and sharing, proving that life shouldn't be lived as a series of endings, but rather as the beginning of greater strength and love.

Patrick Swayze was a three-time Golden Globe-nominated actor best known for his leading-man roles in two of the most beloved pictures of all time: “Ghost” and“Dirty Dancing.” Along with these high grossing, history-making films, many of his other movies have achieved a cult following, and his television series, “The Beast,” was a critical success. Also a singer/songwriter, dancer, and stage actor, Swayze grew up in Houston, Texas. He passed away in September 2009.

Lisa Niemi wrote, directed and produced the film “One Last Dance” in 2004. She has held many film, television, and Broadway roles and also wrote, directed and starred in the play “Without a Word” with her husband, garnering six Drama Critics Awards. Before turning to directing and acting, Niemi began her professional life as a dancer. Lisa resides on a ranch outside Los Angeles.

Lisa Niemi is the co-author of The Time of My Life, which she wrote with her late husband, Patrick Swayze. Niemi wrote, directed and produced the film “One Last Dance” in 2004. She has held many film, television, and Broadway roles and in addition, she wrote, directed and starred in the play “Without a Word” with her husband, garnering six Drama Critics Awards. Before turning to directing and acting, Niemi began her professional life as a dancer. Lisa resides on a ranch outside Los Angeles.