She Is A Cool Rider!
Author of three novels, over twenty short stories, plays, radio plays, screenplays, poetry, and non-fiction, Cécile Rischmann’s work explores love, culture, and human connection, often weaving together characters from diverse backgrounds and languages.
With a double major in French Literature and Human Resource Management, and diplomas in Italian, Spanish, Business English, and Creative Writing, along with a stage pédagogique, Cecile is a born storyteller.
“From early on, I dreamt up storylines, thrived on dialogue, and tested my characters until they felt human enough to tell their tale. Writing became more than a passion when my short story Jilted was selected by bestselling author Anuja Chauhan and published by Rupa Publications. Since then, I’ve continued to publish novels and short stories, gaining recognition across India and internationally,” says Cecile, who has her works published by several publications.
“My work has appeared in the Indian Periodical, Kitaab, Joao-Roque Literary Journal, StoryMirror, and PoetrySoup, and I’ve been featured at the Zee Jaipur Literature Festival, The Hindu, TakeOne, Daijiworld, and more,” says Cecile.
Cool Riders is her first full-length screenplay. Cecile entered it in the International Screenplay Competition (ISC @ JIFF), 18th Jaipur International Film Festival 2026, and was genuinely stunned to receive the nomination email. Says Cecile,”Even though Cool Riders is my first full-length screenplay, I approached it after extensive preparation — reading several screenwriting books, studying craft, and adapting a few of my own stories into stage plays, radio plays, and shorter screenplays. So while it may be my first feature-length script, it was built on years of storytelling experience and careful groundwork, not as if I were submitting a completely fresh attempt to a competition.”
A synopsis of Cool Riders:
At the sun-drenched University of Foreigners in Cuernavaca, Mexico, a fearless group of misfits—the Cool Riders—navigate first love, friendship, identity shocks, and buried family truths. With humor and emotional fire, the screenplay explores rebellion, self-discovery, and the powerful idea that family is often chosen, not inherited.
Cecile has been the recipient of several awards and recognitions:
Recognitions:
Winner of multiple StoryMirror awards in fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.
Thrice nominated for Author of the Year
First Prize + Cash Award for Chengalpattu Vanalakshmi at StoryMirror
Winner of First Place for Mi Corazón (2023)
Editor’s Pick on Kitaab for Call Me Nazia and It’s Christmas Time (2025)
Currently, Cecile is eagerly awaiting confirmation for a potential production of one of her radio plays from an American literary agent.
Visit http://www.cecilerischmann.
