Ben Hatke is an artist/illustrator working out of Front Royal, Virginia. He has created illustrations for children's books, textbooks and puzzles and contributes original comics to the Flight Anthologies and Gilbert Magazine.

From March- to November- 2006, the Hatkes will be staying in Northern Italy.
Ben will be studying and painting,
Anna will be making the ancestral house a home,
Angelica will be chasing chickens and collecting snails, and
Zita will be learning to talk.