Beck is Back _ 3 books planned for 2009

Beck is Back, with 3 books

NEW YORK — Glenn Beck loves the publishing game.

The conservative commentator and best-selling author has reached an agreement with Simon & Schuster for a series of books — fiction and nonfiction, for young and for old, in a variety of formats — the publisher announced Monday.

As part of the deal, Beck will accept a smaller advance, but also will receive part of the profits, an arrangement Simon & Schuster has used previously with Stephen King.

Beck has three books planned for this year, including “Arguing With Idiots,” a nonfiction hardcover book; an audiobook called “America’s March to Socialism”; and an e-book/paperback channeling of Thomas Paine, “Glenn Beck’s Common Sense.”