Kentucky Author Begins Four-City Book Signing Tour at KMLF

The Pineville-Bell County Public Library will host a book signing for Kentucky sportswriter and author Jamie H. Vaught’s new and sixth book about the University of Kentucky basketball during the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival. The library event will take place on Saturday, May 27 after KMLF’s Gala Parade from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Former Kentucky Wildcat basketball star Maci Morris and six-time author Jamie H. Vaught during a book interview in 2022.

The title of the 408-page hardcover is Forever Crazy About the Cats: An Improbable Journey of a Kentucky Sportswriter Overcoming Adversity.

The author is also scheduled to appear at least three other book signings in early June. Laurel County Public Library will host the signing on Friday, June 9 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in London. On Saturday, June 10, the signings will be at Grant County Public Library in Williamstown (11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.) and Clark County in Winchester (2:30 – 4:00 p.m.).

The entertaining book, which also contains UK football stories, features many fascinating and inside accounts about the Kentucky Wildcats, including a chapter about ex-UK star Maci Morris, a former Kentucky Miss Basketball from Bell County High School. The other featured individuals include Adolph Rupp, Joe B. Hall, Dan Issel, Mike Pratt, Cawood Ledford, Tubby Smith, John Calipari, Paul “Bear” Bryant, Ray Correll, Blanton Collier, Fran Curci, Jerry Claiborne, Vic Adams and Oscar Tshiebwe (and his high school coach Rick Mancino).

Appropriately, the hardcover begins with a chapter on legendary broadcaster Cawood Ledford and ends with a chapter on legendary coach Joe B. Hall.

“If you’re feeling nostalgic for the University of Kentucky’s glorious basketball past, this could be the book for you,” said Vaught, a longtime professor at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College who moonlights as a sportswriter.

Former SEC coaching rivals Joe B. Hall of Kentucky and Dale Brown of LSU chat during a game at Rupp Arena. (Photo by Jamie H. Vaught)

In addition to numerous UK stories and interviews, the book is also part memoir about Vaught’s long, adventurous career of covering the Wildcats in basketball and football while overcoming personal adversity — a devastating hearing loss since birth. The author discusses his early personal struggles in dealing with his severe hearing impairment.

Also featured is a fascinating chapter about former prep basketball superstar J.R. VanHoose of Paintsville High School who once was recruited by UK. In addition, the book includes an enjoyable chapter about Vaught’s childhood friend Roberto Clemente and the Pittsburgh Pirates.

The hardcover has received several positive reviews. "I have finished the book and really enjoyed it,” said Lexington’s Jim Host, the sports marketing pioneer who is also a member of the National College Basketball Hall of Fame. “I found it really entertaining with the sidebar stories about a number of individuals associated with UK. Jamie is a superstar in how he has overcome adversity in doing such a great job on this book.”

During the 1980s and early 1990s, Vaught also wrote columns for The Cats’ Pause for 13 years.

In addition to Amazon (with free shipping), the book is available at Lexington’s Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Lexington’s Kentucky Branded and Hazard’s Read Spotted Newt bookstore.