As authors around the country struggle with layoffs and publishing freezes, Ben Mezrich has hit upon a unique solution: movie star patronage.

In a Boston Herald profile this weekend, Mezrich explained how Kevin Spacey helped Mezrich live "a writer's dream come true" when he decided to help turn the casino drama Bringing Down the House into the film 21. Since then, the profile counts no less than four films slated from Mezrich's work, based on books both published and as-yet-unpublished.

The article describes the adaptation relationship, comparing it to crime author Dennis Lehane's work with actors Clint Eastwood and Ben Affleck.

"Spacey read an article Mezrich had written for Wired magazine just prior to the release of Bringing Down the House in 2002. Spacey asked his business partner, Dana Brunetti, to contact the author. 'Two days later, I was meeting Kevin Spacey at the Beverly Hills Hotel,' said Mezrich, who adds that he was a big fan of Spacey's work. 'L.A. Confidential was my favorite book and movie for a while."