Why a date with my school crush was an absolute disaster says Scotland's raunchiest novelist

At one time, Sophie Grant thought the cringeworthy episodes from her love life were nothing more than rueful anecdotes to share with friends.

However, as she gears up for the release of her fouth book, the Glasgow-based author has discussed how these embarassing tales sparked a career that has transformed her life.

Ms Grant, who goes by the pen name of Sophie Gravia, 32, became an overnight sensation after she turned her raunchy blog into a self published novel.

Her latest work Hot Girl Summer comes hot on the high heels of her three previous books: A Glasgow Kiss, What Happens in Dubai and Meet Me In Milan.

The plot of her upcoming book sees her characters go to a school reunion where they realise their lives are not quite on track.

As a result they pledge to do their utmost to ensure they have a summer filled with romantic encounters.

Ms Grant, from Bellshill, is a mother of two: Olivia, 14, and Grace, 12.

Born and raised in Lanarkshire, she left high school in fifth year and enrolled in a performing arts course at college. But after having her second child with her then boyfriend, she pursued her nursing career and left the creative indutsries behind.

It wasn’t until 2019 that she turned her string of failed dates into a blog and then a novel.

The immediate chart-topper changed life as she knew it for her and her family, allowing her to pay off all her debts and buy a new house and car.

However, despite writing about romance, she herself has remained unlucky in love, and admits that - like her characters - she had an unsuccessful encounter with an old school crush after they decided to get reacquainted last summer.

She explained: ‘I had my own reunion with my crush from high school but it didn’t go to plan when I quickly realised he still hung around the street and drank on the weekends.’

However, while her high school crush was stuck in the past, Ms Grant said she prefers ‘a nice Cosmopolitan or Mojito in a classy bar’.

She was also less than impressed when her date suggested grabbing some chips and gravy on their date.

Ms Grant’s life has changed dramatically since she snagged a book deal with publishers Orion, which boasts Scottish literary giant Ian Rankin among its authors.

She said: ‘The success of my three books so far has been incredible. It’s changed my life and my children’s lives. They love it because I’ve cut down my nursing shifts to two days a week now and we get to spend more time together and I don’t have to constantly worry to save up and take them to nice places and we can enjoy life together comfortably.’

Ms Grant also has enough of an income now to go on holiday every month, not to mention the trips abroad paid by her publisher as she promotes her books.

She said: ‘The trips have been amazing. I get to pick where I write and go visit these places. I’d never been to Italy before and it’s now my new favourite place.

‘I’m also booking in trips to New York, Monaco, Nice and Amsterdam in coming months. I’m living the dream.’

 ■ Click here to visit the Scotland home page for the latest news and sport