After we have signed off the physical proof copy we will make final arrangements at the printers / distributors.
Usually, within three or four days the metadata about your book starts to dribble out digitally to the various online (and bricks and mortar) retailers.
Many, but not all, allow pre-orders of your book.
We don’t build the ebook edition (if this is part of your package) until the physical proof has been signed off and the book is finalised.
Once it is made it will be submitted to our digital distributor and usually starts to appear on sites (Kindle on Amazon, Apple iBooks, Kobo, etc.) within a week or two.
Until publication date the delivery times are often artificially extended with Amazon, but will settle down to the normal quick turnaround when the machine starts churning out copies/orders.
Once it shows as in stock (even if it isn’t technically in stock) they do rapid turnaround.
Amazon, like any retailer, can set its own price for a product it sells.
Initially some titles are shown at a higher price than is set by us. This usually settles down to the normal rate before the publication date (even discounted at times).
Amazon offers a pre-order price protection scheme, so if they drop the price (as they should) before the order is sent (on or around the publication date) only the lower price should be charged.
Take a look at other sites, Waterstones, etc, and see what the pricing and availability looks like there. If there is a widespread issue with the pricing shown, get in touch with us.
Remember, no matter what people tell you, no one really knows how Amazon makes its decisions.
