While waiting for the edits and covers (this is where I'm at with the next book in my Heiresses In Aprons Series) you start getting you promo lists together, but you can't really book anything until you have firm release dates in place. So once you have everything back you can start formatting (and book those promo spots!). For some people this is something they can easily do.
The point I'm trying to make here is that just like a lot of jobs and things in life for writers there is a lot of hurry up and wait that goes on. When you're dying to get your hands on your favorite author's newest or coming soon books just remember they want you to have it too. But they also want you to have the best book they can write, which can take time.