Born in England, trained as a journalist in Australia, a globe-trotting travel writer, why set your novel in Kashmir?Isn't it tough competing with Indian writers in English on their turf?Did you know you'd be up against Salman Rushdie's Shalimar the Clown?When did you hear about Rushdie's book?You launched at the same time—at the Edinburgh book festival. Any comparisons?ShalimarWhy an Indian edition?Where is home for you?But don't you need a home to write novels?But you don't speak any Indian language.Your next book?