Speaking Science Fiction laced with romance...
I read a lot of sci-fi fantasy, most with romantic elements. If possible, I never miss an episode of Farscape, Stargate or Star Trek. My favorite ones contain the developing romantic relationships between different species. In Star Trek-- Vulcan and Human, Klingon and Human, Symbyote and Klingon. In Farscape-- Human and Sebacean, Luxan and Nebari-- This last one inspired my Sci-fi character T'Kon and his human lover, Maya in my novella, Endangered. I am truly a space oriented sci-fi lover! I constantly study how to write these types of adventures.
While at UCLA, I wrote a sci-fi screenplay that was actually optioned by producer, Bob Kosberg. But writing an entire well-crafted novel (filled with adventurous plot points, hooks, good pacing and the art of sprinkling backstory throughout the novel-- and only when absolutely necessary, rather than in big chunks-- along with exhausting research) is truly a task that takes a practiced author in the genre, and it's not an easy task. Just ask Orson Scott Card! In other words, you've got to love the genre to write in it. That's why most of the sci-fi romance stories I have written so far are shorts or novellas.
I did write a Parallel Universe romance novel (no, it's not Endangered!) based on the script that never made it to the big screen. It's the first novel length I ever wrote. From time to time I pull it out and work on it, I layer it, revise it and tweak it. Maybe it will be ready for submission. But right now, I feel it is in the stage of work in progress, even though it's basically finished. Someday, when I become a better writer and have published several novels length books, I'll think about submitting that story. Until then, I have plenty of other work to do! (Time Travel, Medieval, Paranormal.)
Oh yes, did I tell you about my involvement in anything medieval? Well that's a story I'll save for another time!
How about you? Do you have a "baby-type" story that is closest to your heart? You still work on it, and maybe someday you'll even submit it-- but not yet...? First novels are sometimes like that.
Come September, I'll tell you about the best Science Fiction contest you could ever enter. The winning stories, published in an anthology each year, sell way past the million mark. It has launched many authors careers into the world of big time publishing and six-figure incomes, so stay tuned...
Kaye