Briefly Absent BooksIllustrated humour & small escapes
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The books from Briefly Absent Books

Find your next
small escape.

Familiar working days. Ridiculously manageable challenges. Illustrated humour to dip into, enjoy on a break or give to someone who will get the joke.

Customer Stereotypes is our first planned release. The other books below are in development; we’ll share dates when they’re confirmed.

Customer Stereotypes You Have to Smile Through cover.

First up · Paid to Be Here

Customer Stereotypes
You Have to Smile Through

100 familiar customer types. Ben and Sarah’s private thoughts. The professional replies they manage to produce instead.

Coming soon · Illustrated paperback

Explore the first book →

Workplace humour & activities

Paid to Be Here

Your body is at work. Your thoughts are making other arrangements. Four standalone books about customers, meetings and the breaks in between.

  • Customer Stereotypes You Have to Smile ThroughFirst planned release · Ben & Sarah
  • Things to Ponder During Long Boring MeetingsComing next · Martin & Helen
  • The “Five-Minute” Toilet Break Personality Quiz BookIn development · Claire & Graham
  • Games to Liven Up Those Uneventful Lunch BreaksIn development · A little play with everyday supplies
Meet the Paid to Be Here series →

In development · Comic puzzle adventures

Suspiciously Easy

The answers are obvious. The book takes them very seriously. A new series of affectionate gift books about tiny challenges and considerable recognition.

  • A Puzzle Book You Might Actually FinishA varied collection of remarkably manageable activities
  • The World’s Least Challenging Escape RoomA connected adventure through exceptionally helpful security
  • The Case of the Extremely Obvious CulpritA mystery that leaves very little to the imagination

Working titles and concepts. These books are not yet available.

Preview Suspiciously Easy →

Try before you choose

A small escape, on us.

Read two retail excerpts, try a character search, or join the email list for a 16-page sampler of Paid to Be Here.

Read the retail excerpts →Try a character search →See what’s in the free sampler →

Your next small escape

Get your next small escape.

Join our email list for The Five-Minute Escape: a free 16-page taste of all four Paid to Be Here books, plus a Find Sarah challenge. We’ll also send release news and occasional previews. Confirm your email to receive the sampler; unsubscribe whenever you like.

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