Queries are sent to author. Editor reviews and, if corrections, input onto disk. Publisher decides, based on advance sales, advance paid, etc. how many to print. Sometimes, publicity sends out galleys or bound galleys to reviewers. Sometimes puts great quotes on book jacket.
Book arrives in bookstores.
6 week window of opportunity. Perhaps author does mail order. The editor moves to another city and leaves publishing. 5 years later, author revises the book or rights revert to author. Author might consider updating and recycling contents of old book into a brand new book with a great new title.