The Shattered Crown Launch Checklist (What Actually Worked)

Posted September 27, 2026 | Indie Publishing Series

Got my dark fantasy novel $2,400 first week without spending on ads. This is the exact 15-step checklist I used.

Pre-Launch (Months 1-2)

Week 1-2: Category Research

• Browse Amazon's "Fantasy > Dark Fantasy" category
• Find books with 300+ reviews + 4.5+ stars
• Note pricing: $4.99-$6.99 works
• Copy 5 book descriptions and analyze structure

Week 3-4: Cover Design

• Used Canva Pro + fantasy template
• Key rule: Main character face clearly visible
• Color psychology: Red = danger, dark = serious
• Test on phone screen (thumb-sized thumbnail)

Launch Week

Day 1-2: Price Promotion

• Launch price: $0.99 for 48 hours
• Run Amazon Ads: $5/day, target "dark fantasy" + "vampire"
• Email list from previous books (if available)

Day 3-4: Review Campaign

• Contact 50 Goodreads giveaway followers
• Message 20 book bloggers for early review copies
• Personal messages to 10 YouTube viewers

The Numbers

• Week 1: $2,400 (price $0.99-$3.99)
• Week 2: $1,800 (price $3.99)
• Week 3: $1,200 (price $3.99)
• Total Month: $5,400

Key Lessons

1. Readers buy characters, not plots
2. Reviews matter more than price in fantasy
3. Series sell better than standalone

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