EPISODE · Mar 3, 2026 · 50 MIN
#305 Writing Great Fiction | Andrew Davidson
from SuperPsyched with Dr. Adam Dorsay · host SuperPsyched ©
Psychologist and SuperPsyched host Dr. Adam Dorsay interviews novelist Andrew Davidson about Davidson’s debut novel The Gargoyle and the role fiction can play in empathy and mental health. Davidson summarizes the book as a burn-ward patient approached by a woman who claims they were lovers 700 years ago, highlighting the tension between the narrator’s atheism and Maryanne Engel’s faith. He discusses his research-driven writing process, including firsthand outreach to a burn survivor, extensive historical sourcing, and deliberate choices balancing accuracy with emotional truth. Davidson explains cutting a much longer manuscript, securing representation from agent Eric Simonoff, and how the book’s global publication—including translations and a reported $1.25 million advance—led to an overwhelming publicity tour that altered his relationship with writing. He describes later work in theater and ends by naming empathy as the key insight to improve society.00:00 Welcome to SuperPsyched00:26 Why Fiction Matters00:49 Introducing The Gargoyle02:28 Meet Andrew Davidson03:24 What The Book Is About06:44 Characters and The Author09:09 Researching Worlds and Trauma13:59 Accuracy vs Emotional Truth19:02 Trusting Intuition and Editing21:12 Loving the Writing Process22:26 Why Only One Novel24:39 Writing for Love25:40 Japan and The Gargoyle26:30 Fame and Touring Burnout29:11 Reset in Paris30:26 Theater and New Writing31:57 Writer Identity and Intrinsic Drive33:48 Landing a Top Agent36:07 Editing Down the Manuscript40:11 Luck Preparation and Gratitude42:35 Movie or Limited Series45:34 Winnipeg Theater Mission47:54 Empathy and FarewellHelpful Links:Andrew Davidson FacebookThe Gargoyle Book
What this episode covers
Psychologist and SuperPsyched host Dr. Adam Dorsay interviews novelist Andrew Davidson about Davidson’s debut novel The Gargoyle and the role fiction can play in empathy and mental health. Davidson summarizes the book as a burn-ward patient approached by a woman who claims they were lovers 700 years ago, highlighting the tension between the narrator’s atheism and Maryanne Engel’s faith. He discusses his research-driven writing process, including firsthand outreach to a burn survivor, extensive historical sourcing, and deliberate choices balancing accuracy with emotional truth. Davidson explains cutting a much longer manuscript, securing representation from agent Eric Simonoff, and how the book’s global publication—including translations and a reported $1.25 million advance—led to an overwhelming publicity tour that altered his relationship with writing. He describes later work in theater and ends by naming empathy as the key insight to improve society.00:00 Welcome to SuperPsyched00:26 Why Fiction Matters00:49 Introducing The Gargoyle02:28 Meet Andrew Davidson03:24 What The Book Is About06:44 Characters and The Author09:09 Researching Worlds and Trauma13:59 Accuracy vs Emotional Truth19:02 Trusting Intuition and Editing21:12 Loving the Writing Process22:26 Why Only One Novel24:39 Writing for Love25:40 Japan and The Gargoyle26:30 Fame and Touring Burnout29:11 Reset in Paris30:26 Theater and New Writing31:57 Writer Identity and Intrinsic Drive33:48 Landing a Top Agent36:07 Editing Down the Manuscript40:11 Luck Preparation and Gratitude42:35 Movie or Limited Series45:34 Winnipeg Theater Mission47:54 Empathy and FarewellHelpful Links:Andrew Davidson FacebookThe Gargoyle Book
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#305 Writing Great Fiction | Andrew Davidson
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