Help me out with the title of my new book

[James]

Hi all,
working on the second book in this series and so far most of my reviewers of the first book have liked the book and the cover but not the title. It is young adult sci-fi, aimed at the high school audience but engaging enough, I think, for adults.

The first book is:
Gabriella and Dr. Duggan's Secret Dimensional Transport Machine (Book 1 of the NuGen series)

So for book 2 of the NuGen series, how about these?
Gabriella and the Curse of the Black Spot
or
Gabriella and the Black Spot
or
The Black Spot

And for book 3?
Gabriella and the Speed of Life
or
The Speed of Life

I was really thinking "Harry Potter and the..." when I came up with this, but so many didn't like the title for the first book that I don't know if I should stick with the theme.
Thanks for any opinions.
Jim

[[deleted user]]

I think theme is important in a series. If you went with Gabriella and... for the first, I'd continue with Gabriella and... for the rest. Just my humble opinion.

[Judy]

I actually like the "Gabriella and the Curse of the Black Spot" It's not as long as your first title but fits the same theme. Plus I think "Curse" adds something.

Otherwise you'd want to change all of them to take out Gabriella's name.

[Susie]

The trouble I see with "Gabriella and the Curse of the Black Spot" is that I (and many others) automatically think "Doctor Who". Indeed, if you do a search for "curse of the black spot" it will come up with the Doctor Who episode of that name. But the original Black Spot reference in Curse of the Black Spot is in relationship to Treasure Island.

Just a warning as a title often suggests what people should expect. If there's a nautical theme it could work. Otherwise it may be confusing.

[James]

well I certainly watch the Doctor but I had forgotten about that one. Thanks for pointing that out.

The black spot in my book is something like a skin stain that people have who were exposed to something. It becomes trendy and people who don't know what it is start getting it as a tattoo.

Maybe I should come up with an entirely different title for the 2nd book?

[Marc]

The longer the title the less memorable. The general advice I believe is to go with a title of no more than 6 words. I read on a Smashwords blog (if I remember correctly) that longer titles sell less.