In March 2011, Allan started to write his memoirs.   In August 2012, Allan and his wife Deb appeared in the Two of Us column of the Good Weekend Magazine.  This story caught the eye of Andrea McNamara, the non-fiction publisher of Penguin Books.  And as they say, the rest is history.... 

Allan's book, 'The Cost of Bravery' will be released on May 22, 2013.  It is currently available for pre-order from a number of major retailers including Dymocks, Angus and Robertson, Bookworld, The Co-Op Books Store, Abbeys Book Store and Boffins Book Store.  Allan's book will be available in paperback and E-book format from amazon.com, apple iBookstore, Google e-books, Kobo, ReadCloud and Booki.sh.

Here is the Penguin Books description of his book;

Allan Sparkes didn't think twice about rescuing an 11-year-old boy from a flooded storm water drain – the courageous policeman put his life on the line and saved the kid. He became one of only five people to be awarded Australia's highest decoration for bravery, the Cross of Valour, but the rescue would signal a downward spiral into post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.

Here was a man with many professional accolades, who had thrived on never knowing what his next call would involve – murder, bombings, junkies and robberies were often part of a day's work for this detective, yet he suddenly lost his 20-year career and all sense of self-worth.

Allan's recovery from debilitating mental illness was a rollercoaster ride of personal challenges that tested his courage and resolve over more than a decade. With the unwavering support of his wife, he faced his demons and rebuilt his mind, body and soul. Today, Allan is back to being his adventurous self, prepared to face whatever comes his way. This is his inspiring story.

Click here to read the foreword by Ray Martin AM and an extract from the book on the Penguin Books Australia Website.

                                    



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