January 19, 2000
Web posted at: 2:09 p.m. EST (1909 GMT)

(CNN) -- Simon & Schuster has guaranteed it will publish Stephen King's next three titles with an extension of a contract first signed in 1997.

The new deal, which builds on the original agreement, is for three works of fiction to be published by Scribner in hardcover, Pocket Books in paperback, and Simon & Schuster Audio as audio books.

The contract extension came quietly, unlike the circumstances in 1997, when King's unusual public negotiating strategy drew equally public criticism. At the time, King had left his publisher of more than 20 years, Penguin Putnam, in search of a mega-dollar, mega-book deal.

The popular horror writer got that deal with Simon & Schuster, though not the $17 million-per-book advance he was reportedly seeking. The deal, which was for three books, gave King a rumored 50 percent share of the profits from each book, with a per-book advance of a reported $6 million to $8 million.

"This new agreement is a testimony to the strength and success of our partnership," said Jack Romanos, president and chief operating officer of Simon & Schuster Inc. "We're delighted that the relationship between Stephen King and Simon & Schuster has grown and expanded well beyond the scope of our original contract. We look forward to being Stephen's publishing home for many years to come."

In a statement issued by the publisher, King said, "I'm delighted to know that my future with Scribner, Pocket Books and Simon & Schuster Audio is secure."

Since the 1997 contract there have been eight King titles published, five more than the original agreement. The first book to be published under the new agreement will be a novel, "From a Buick Eight."

King, who lives in Bangor, Maine, is still recovering from severe injuries received last year when he was hit by a vehicle while walking along the side of a road near his vacation home in Lovell.

"He is still in pain. He may well be for quite some time," King's assistant, Marsha DeFilippo, said Wednesday.

The author has improved to where he is walking with only one crutch, "which he uses like a cane," and "is still doing physical therapy on a daily basis," she said.

King underwent five operations to set the broken bones in his right leg and hip. He also suffered broken ribs, a punctured lung and a skull laceration.

"He is making progress," DeFilippo said. "No operations are planned in the near future, and the doctors feel he is right on track with his recovery."