After describing him as "Satan's mentally challenged younger brother" three years ago, Stephen King appears to have warmed slightly towards Glenn Beck, admitting that he "sort of digs" the "crazy" conservative talk show host.

In his Entertainment Weekly column on Friday, King – a Democrat – said that Beck reminded him "of certain people you encounter in big cities". "You know, the ones wearing robes, sandals, and signs proclaiming that the world is going to end because American men are eating too much red meat and American women are wearing their pants too tight," King wrote. "He's crazy, but – like those urban nutcakes – he actually seems to believe what he's saying. I can get behind that."

Beck, however, seemed unimpressed by the apparent softening in attitude from the bestselling author, responding in no uncertain terms on fellow conservative talk show host Bill O'Reilly's show that King is "the guy that usually when I release my books at the same time, he's number two".

With six number one bestsellers to his name, including new novel The Overton Window, an apocalyptic political thriller, Beck is certainly having an impact on the US book market. But the Fox host has some way to go before he catches up with King, author of nearly 50 novels with sales of more than 350m.

"So you think he's jealous of you?" said O'Reilly (whom King called "Satan's mentally challenged older brother" in a 2007 column). "He lives up in Maine, this guy. He writes about spooky things."

"I think he meant that in a good way," Beck told O'Reilly. "What he's saying is you're a nutcake. But I'm a sincere nutcake ... I'm sincerely crazy ... I appreciate that, Stephen." The pair then discussed visiting King in Maine. "We could gather arms and – I mean, lock arms, not gather arms. That would be crazy. Lock arms and sing Kumbaya. And then he can come out and tell us spooky stories," said Beck.