Hello Alan,
First of all, thanks for a detailed description, many clients are simply careless. Based on what I can see here, I think you and me are going to like each other.
I am a digital painter specializing in realistic style and fantastic theme, both fantasy and science.
I've worked on several books in recent past and I know well the standards and rules like you linked for eBooks.
I love interpreting other's peoples ideas and stories into a stunning visual. But also I don't mind participating in deciding things together with author, I even read the whole books in the past in order to understand the characters and emotions.
And lastly, I am of course very proficient in Adobe's programs and I will always stay in touch with you. Maybe you won't be blown away by my knowledge of SciFi, but you will be by my paintings.
Here's a couple of examples, I can show more relevant examples once I understand fully what you need.
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That's all from me for now, please don't hesitate to ask anything if you have any doubts or questions.
Best regards,
Sasha