Page "Publishing" Paragraph 34

Within the book industry, some copies of the finished book are often flown to publishers as sample copies to aid sales or to be sent for pre-release reviews.

The remaining books often travel from the printing facility via sea freight.

As such, the delay between the approval of the pre-press proof and the arrival of books in warehouse, much less in a retail store, can be some months.

For books that are tied into movie release dates ( particularly children's films ), publishers will arrange books to arrive in store up to two months prior to the movie release to build interest in the movie.