William Michaelian

A Listening Thing is the fictional first-person narrative of Stephen Monroe, a self-employed divorced man battling financial insolvency and emotional instability.[10] Still in love with his ex-wife, Mary, and strongly attached to their teenaged son, Matt, Michaelian's main character struggles with guilt and low self-esteem toward a positive affirmation of himself. Encouraged by the discovery of an untapped talent and the growing hope of a rekindled relationship with Mary, Stephen grapples, often humorously, with the problems of daily life while seeking their root cause in society and himself. The novel focuses on a harrowing week that culminates in Stephen and Mary making the long drive to Stephen's hometown to visit Stephen's aging mother. The emotionally exhausting trip leads to the possibility of the couple's full reconciliation.

While the story can be enjoyed for its romantic element, humorous element, and Michaelian's careful treatment of its major and minor characters, the author uses his protagonist to address several major societal concerns. These include poverty and homelessness; the ongoing presence and threat of war; the shortcomings of public education; and social alienation. As a result, the story transcends its simple framework, and serves as a compendium of relevant contemporary observations, and as a compelling plea for understanding and self-exploration.[11]

The novel was first scheduled for print publication in 2002. Michaelian published the work himself, however, in 2003, after publicly documenting[12] the difficulties, business irregularities, and delays he experienced with the book's contracted publisher. The self-published edition can be found on his website.[13] The title page includes a preface to the complete electronic text; the original cover art for the unpublished paperback print edition; promotional copy intended for the cover; and several short reviews. Since the author made the novel available, there has been an increase in demand for an unspecified number of review copies distributed by the publisher to the book trade prior to the time the publisher broke its contract. The original retail price for the book had been set at $14.95. According to the author,[12] prices for a single review copy on Amazon.com have ranged from $33.00 to $707.00. In an explanatory note[14] on the same site, he certifies the text in the review copies as authentic and complete.

• A Listening Thing Electronic Text (2003)

• Among the Living and Other Stories. Musclehead Press. (2000)
• No Time to Cut My Hair Electronic Text (2002)
• Early Short Stories Electronic Text (2005)

• Winter Poems. San Francisco: Cosmopsis Books. ISBN 978-0-9796599-0-4 (2007)
• Another Song I Know. San Francisco: Cosmopsis Books. ISBN 978-0-9796599-1-1 (2007)
• Great Minds Think Alike. Poem included in the Collected Poems section of the author's website.

• A Map of My Heart. Yerevan, Armenia: Artasamanyan Grakanutyun. ISBN 99941-0-136-6 (2004)
• The Old Language. Yerevan, Armenia: Tigran Mets. ISBN 99941-917-1-3 (2004)

• One Hand Clapping Electronic Text (2003–2005)