diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 397b4a76..6ab38c85 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1 +1 @@
-*.log
+.log
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 071a2061..43161c08 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,3 +1 @@
 # learn-pub-sub-starter (Peril)
-
-This is the starter code used in Boot.dev's [Learn Pub/Sub](https://learn.boot.dev/learn-pub-sub) course.
diff --git a/cmd/server/main.go b/cmd/server/main.go
index 58622c6a..9d1e016c 100644
--- a/cmd/server/main.go
+++ b/cmd/server/main.go
@@ -1,7 +1,45 @@
 package main
 
-import "fmt"
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"log"
+	"os"
+	"os/signal"
+
+	"github.com/imhasandl/pub-sub-starter/internal/pubsub"
+	"github.com/imhasandl/pub-sub-starter/internal/routing"
+	amqp "github.com/rabbitmq/amqp091-go"
+)
 
 func main() {
-	fmt.Println("Starting Peril server...")
+	const rabbitmqConnection = "amqp://guest:guest@localhost:5672/"
+
+	conn, err := amqp.Dial(rabbitmqConnection)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("could not connect to RabbitMQ: %v", err)
+	}
+	defer conn.Close()
+	fmt.Println("Peril game server connected to RabbitMQ!")
+
+	signalChan := make(chan os.Signal, 1)
+	signal.Notify(signalChan, os.Interrupt)
+	<-signalChan
+
+	publishCh, err := conn.Channel()
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("could not create channel: %v", err)
+	}	
+
+	err = pubsub.PublishJSON(
+		publishCh,
+		routing.ExchangePerilDirect,
+		routing.PauseKey,
+		routing.PlayingState{
+			IsPaused: true,
+		},
+	)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Printf("could not publish time: %v", err)
+	}
+	fmt.Println("Pause message sent!")
 }
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 6bfacb3f..7514e3d4 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
-module github.com/bootdotdev/learn-pub-sub-starter
+module github.com/imhasandl/pub-sub-starter
 
 go 1.22.1
+
+require github.com/rabbitmq/amqp091-go v1.10.0
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index e69de29b..024eebe7 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+github.com/rabbitmq/amqp091-go v1.10.0 h1:STpn5XsHlHGcecLmMFCtg7mqq0RnD+zFr4uzukfVhBw=
+github.com/rabbitmq/amqp091-go v1.10.0/go.mod h1:Hy4jKW5kQART1u+JkDTF9YYOQUHXqMuhrgxOEeS7G4o=
+go.uber.org/goleak v1.3.0 h1:2K3zAYmnTNqV73imy9J1T3WC+gmCePx2hEGkimedGto=
+go.uber.org/goleak v1.3.0/go.mod h1:CoHD4mav9JJNrW/WLlf7HGZPjdw8EucARQHekz1X6bE=
diff --git a/internal/gamelogic/logs.go b/internal/gamelogic/logs.go
index f9af79fc..4e69dbf3 100644
--- a/internal/gamelogic/logs.go
+++ b/internal/gamelogic/logs.go
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/bootdotdev/learn-pub-sub-starter/internal/routing"
+	"github.com/imhasandl/pub-sub-starter/internal/routing"
 )
 
 const logsFile = "game.log"
diff --git a/internal/gamelogic/pause.go b/internal/gamelogic/pause.go
index 5874f3c0..ebb8e186 100644
--- a/internal/gamelogic/pause.go
+++ b/internal/gamelogic/pause.go
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ package gamelogic
 import (
 	"fmt"
 
-	"github.com/bootdotdev/learn-pub-sub-starter/internal/routing"
+	"github.com/imhasandl/pub-sub-starter/internal/routing"
 )
 
 func (gs *GameState) HandlePause(ps routing.PlayingState) {
diff --git a/internal/pubsub/publish.go b/internal/pubsub/publish.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..142ed2dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/pubsub/publish.go
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+package pubsub
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+
+	amqp "github.com/rabbitmq/amqp091-go"
+)
+
+
+func PublishJSON[T any](ch *amqp.Channel, exchange, key string, val T) error {
+	dat, err := json.Marshal(val)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	err = ch.PublishWithContext(
+		context.Background(),
+		exchange,
+		key,
+		false,
+		false,
+		amqp.Publishing{
+			ContentType: "application/json",
+			Body: dat,
+		},
+	)
+
+	return err
+}
\ No newline at end of file