Diana Kapp
@dianakapp.bsky.social
Journo & Author, THE LAST FREE WOMEN: A Daring Escape from Afghanistan and Coming of Age in America (Sept 2026) — runner, dog mom, Idaho-lover.
I'm excited to finally share a first look at THE LAST FREE WOMEN. There is nothing like seeing these badass women, so we made a book trailer! I’m hoping this glimpse grabs you and you want to know more. The book is out Sept 8. Pre-orders matter, so if you are so moved, do so! thelastfreewomen.com
After fleeing Afghanistan, Marwa wasn't sure she would ever return to school. The future she had spent years working toward suddenly seemed out of reach. What followed was not the path she had imagined, but it opened doors she never expected.
The day Kabul fell, Mursal had just graduated from law school. The future she imagined disappeared almost overnight. What came next was a journey from Houston to Cornell, powered by determination and a refusal to give up.
Moments from a trip to Afghanistan in 2012. A glimpse of what felt like a golden age for Afghan girls. The schools were filled with students who dreamed of becoming doctors, teachers, engineers, and scientists. These photos have stayed with me ever since.
Meet Maryam. She had spent years gunning for a future she could clearly see: Kabul University, a career in medicine, community prestige. Then, in August 2021, everything changed. Pre-order THE LAST FREE WOMEN: thelastfreewomen.com
Evidence that books are not written alone. They are questioned, challenged, corrected, and improved by many generous people along the way.
Meet Marwa. She dreamed of becoming a doctor. By the summer of 2021, that dream was finally within reach. Then came August 15. The Marwa you'll meet in THE LAST FREE WOMEN is thoughtful, funny, and endlessly curious. Pre-order now thelastfreewomen.com
Meet Marwa. She dreamed of becoming a doctor. By the summer of 2021, that dream was finally within reach. Then came August 15. The Marwa you'll meet in THE LAST FREE WOMEN is thoughtful, funny, and endlessly curious. Pre-order now thelastfreewomen.com
Inside a military transport plane bound for Mexico City from Doha, families who had left nearly everything behind waited to learn where they would call home. None of us could imagine where the journey would lead.
The latest reporting from The New York Times documents what many Afghan women are facing today: restrictions on education, employment, travel, and even the ability to earn a living. It's a sobering look at what life has become for millions. Essential reading: www.nytimes.com/2026/06/21/w...
It's a gift when someone takes the time to read your work so thoughtfully. Thank you, Evan Osnos.
Some thank-yous are more fun to deliver in person. Thank you, Henry Louis Gates Jr., for your generous support of THE LAST FREE WOMEN.
This is Marwa, Mursal, Maryam, and Samira. The story of THE LAST FREE WOMEN begins with them. Over the coming weeks, I'll introduce you to each of these remarkable young women, the challenges they've faced, and the lives they're building today. This is their story.
