Though she considers Beyonce "the patron saint of female millennials,” Alicia Keys definitely has her number.

This girl is on fire.

Javacia Harris Bowser, ASFA alumna and faculty member, writer and entrepreneur, and self-described “Southern fried feminist” is building an empire. She dreams big and holds back little. A professionally trained journalist, she has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Alabama and a masters degree in journalism from the University of California, Berkley. For years she wrote columns, articles and blogs for various media outlets. But the creation of See Jane Write, which began as a small women’s writing group in 2008, has grown into an award-winning business and put Bowser in the Birmingham spotlight. This month, Javacia will be honored at an award luncheon as one of Birmingham Magazine’s Women Who Shape the State. We sat down and talked a bit about her initial inspiration and vision for her company in the future.

•  Do you remember the first time you felt the urge to write? 

“The first thing I remember writing was a poem for my best friend who was about to move away. I was 8 and it was terrible. In fact, I'm sure it contained the line "Roses are red, violets are blue" but in that moment I realized that writing had the power to make me feel better. So I started writing and never stopped.”  

•  Who has been the greatest influence on your as a writer? 

 
“Even though I don't really write poetry anymore the poet Nikki Giovanni has had a huge impact on me as a writer. When I read her poetry it was the first time I felt someone was writing about so many feelings I'd had but had been unable to articulate. When I read her poetry I felt understood and I wanted even more to be a writer because I wanted something I had written to one day make someone feel that way, too.” 

•  When did you begin blogging? Why do you think people are interested in your thoughts and opinions?
 
“I started blogging when I worked as a full-time newspaper reporter in Louisville, Kentucky. I blogged for my paper's website. I enjoyed blogging so much that I soon after started a blog of my own. 
 
When I started blogging I didn't really worry about if people would be interested in my thoughts or opinions or not. I just started. Perhaps it was because I had a bi-weekly column at my paper that was pretty popular and that gave me confidence or maybe I was just naive. But either way, I just started a blog and wrote with reckless abandon. It was wonderful.” 

•  What do you see as your greatest accomplishment?

“In my teaching life, having students tell me that I've made a significant impact on their lives is what means the most to me. Once a student told me that my elective, Women and the Media, completely changed her life. I cried when she told me and sometimes get weepy even when I think about it. 

In my writing and business life, See Jane Write is my greatest accomplishment. I built it from scratch, as I like to say, with no recipe to follow. Through See Jane Write I have been able to help so many women go after their writing, blogging, and business dreams. See Jane Write will be my legacy.” 

•  You were recently named one of Birmingham Magazine’s Women Who Shape the State.  How do you feel you have influenced the women of Alabama?
 
“A member of See Jane Write recently said I helped her find her voice and that was one of the greatest compliments I've ever received. I think that is how I most influence the women of Alabama. I am inspiring them to share their stories. I am inspiring them to not just find their voices, but to also use them.” 

The success of See Jane Write has awarded Bowser with recognition that includes her selection as “One of the Smartest Women in Birmingham” by the Women Fund of Greater Birmingham’s SMART Party Committee, one of the "Top 40 Under 40” by the Birmingham Business Journal and one of Birmingham’s “Women Who inspire” by Girls on the Run.

And she won’t stop there. Bowser plans to take her brand beyond Birmingham, knowing it may take some change or fine tuning ... ”It’s what I have to do if I want it to grow.” 

“I am definitely building an empire. This is something I’ve only been able to admit to myself recently. I used to be reluctant to say this for fear of sounding cocky.”

And, of course, she wants to continue to write.

“I want to write a few books and and see my byline in all my favorite magazines and online media outlets.” 

We’ve no doubt, Javacia, that you will.

“Looks like a girl, but she's a flame
So bright, she can burn your eyes
Better look the other way
You can try but you'll never forget her name.”

Girl On Fire lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group