Thursday, October 1, 2026
After writing about education for decades as a high school principal, college professor and radio reporter, Merrick resident Steve Kussin is taking readers in a different direction with his latest novel.
Kussin recently released “Guilty Until Proven Innocent: Who Is Telling the Truth?” his third book. The novel follows a once-respected high school principal accused of committing a horrific crime who forms an unlikely friendship with an overnight prison guard determined to prove his innocence.
Kussin describes the book as a blend of a mystery and a story about friendship.
"I wanted people to enjoy a whodunit and a buddy story," he said. "I want reading to be a pleasure."
The idea for the novel began, as many of his stories do, during one of his daily walks around Merrick.
"I always start with, 'What if?'" Kussin said. "What if a popular, charismatic, respected principal got into trouble? As I walked, the story just developed."
Although the novel is fiction, Kussin said his characters are rooted in people he has known throughout his life.
"I do not create characters," he said. "Every one of my characters is based on a person or a composite. They may not know it, but they're based on students I've had, friends, colleagues and relatives."
Before becoming a full-time author, Kussin spent 21 years as a high school principal, 26 years as an adjunct professor in Hofstra University's School of Communication and 12 years as an education reporter for WCBS Newsradio 880, where he wrote and broadcast more than 3,100 stories. He also wrote The Principal's Office, a column for Herald Community Newspapers.
His previous books also drew heavily from his personal experiences.
His first novel, Five Freshmen, is a semi-autobiographical story following five college students during the Vietnam War era. His second book, It's the Principal of the Thing: You Can't Make This Stuff Up!, is a memoir featuring 120 anecdotes from his years as a high school principal.
Each project, he said, came from a different source of inspiration.
"The first one evolved from what I observed at Cornell," Kussin said. "The second came after people at dinner parties kept telling me to write down the stories I was telling them. The third came from asking, 'What if?'"
Kussin said his years in education also shaped his outlook on life. Looking back on his career as a principal, he said three lessons stand out: always be prepared, show students you care and pay special attention to those who need it most.
"It's easy to love the cheerleader and the high school jock," he said. "Love the most unlovable kid the most."
The response to his latest novel has been encouraging, Kussin said.
"The term I've heard is that it's a page-turner," he said. "People tell me they couldn't put it down because they wanted to find out what happened next."
Even after publishing his third book, Kussin isn't slowing down. He said his fourth manuscript is nearly complete and is currently being revised one chapter at a time.
Kussin credits Merrick, where he has lived for 47 years with his wife, Sharyn, for providing both inspiration and a sense of community.
"I love Merrick," he said. "It has that small-town feeling. I take my walk every morning, and I can't tell you how many people stop to say hello. I love that feeling."
For Kussin, writing remains both a creative outlet and a way to encourage others to rediscover the joy of reading.
"There's too much social media," he said. "I want people to read again. I wanted to write a book that people would want to read."
Guilty Until Proven Innocent: Who Is Telling the Truth? is available in paperback and Kindle editions through Amazon. Kussin's other two books are also available.
