diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 181a886..0ceab05 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -56,53 +56,54 @@ export default buildConfig({
 })
 ```
 
-### 2. Send emails using Payload collections
+### 2. Send emails with type-safe helper
 
 ```typescript
-import { renderTemplate } from '@xtr-dev/payload-mailing'
+import { sendEmail } from '@xtr-dev/payload-mailing'
+import { Email } from './payload-types' // Your generated types
 
-// Option 1: Using templates with variables
-const { html, text, subject } = await renderTemplate(payload, 'welcome-email', {
-  firstName: 'John',
-  welcomeUrl: 'https://yoursite.com/welcome'
-})
-
-// Create email using Payload's collection API (full type safety!)
-const email = await payload.create({
-  collection: 'emails',
+// Option 1: Using templates with full type safety
+const email = await sendEmail<Email>(payload, {
+  template: {
+    slug: 'welcome-email',
+    variables: {
+      firstName: 'John',
+      welcomeUrl: 'https://yoursite.com/welcome'
+    }
+  },
   data: {
-    to: ['user@example.com'],
-    subject,
-    html,
-    text,
+    to: 'user@example.com',
     // Schedule for later (optional)
     scheduledAt: new Date(Date.now() + 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000),
-    // Add any custom fields you've defined
     priority: 1,
-    customField: 'your-value', // Your custom collection fields work!
+    // Your custom fields are type-safe!
+    customField: 'your-value',
   }
 })
 
-// Option 2: Direct HTML email (no template needed)
-const directEmail = await payload.create({
-  collection: 'emails',
+// Option 2: Direct HTML email (no template)
+const directEmail = await sendEmail<Email>(payload, {
   data: {
-    to: ['user@example.com'],
+    to: ['user@example.com', 'another@example.com'],
     subject: 'Welcome!',
     html: '<h1>Welcome John!</h1><p>Thanks for joining!</p>',
     text: 'Welcome John! Thanks for joining!',
+    // All your custom fields work with TypeScript autocomplete!
+    customField: 'value',
+  }
+})
+
+// Option 3: Use payload.create() directly for full control
+const manualEmail = await payload.create({
+  collection: 'emails',
+  data: {
+    to: ['user@example.com'],
+    subject: 'Hello',
+    html: '<p>Hello World</p>',
   }
 })
 ```
 
-## Why This Approach is Better
-
-- ✅ **Full Type Safety**: Use your generated Payload types
-- ✅ **No Learning Curve**: Just use `payload.create()` like any collection
-- ✅ **Maximum Flexibility**: Add any custom fields to your email collection
-- ✅ **Payload Integration**: Leverage validation, hooks, access control
-- ✅ **Consistent API**: One way to create data in Payload
-
 ## Configuration
 
 ### Plugin Options
@@ -848,6 +849,55 @@ import {
 } from '@xtr-dev/payload-mailing'
 ```
 
+## API Reference
+
+### `sendEmail<T>(payload, options)`
+
+Type-safe email sending with automatic template rendering and validation.
+
+```typescript
+import { sendEmail } from '@xtr-dev/payload-mailing'
+import { Email } from './payload-types'
+
+const email = await sendEmail<Email>(payload, {
+  template: {
+    slug: 'template-slug',
+    variables: { /* template variables */ }
+  },
+  data: {
+    to: 'user@example.com',
+    // Your custom fields are type-safe here!
+  }
+})
+```
+
+**Type Parameters:**
+- `T extends BaseEmailData` - Your generated Email type for full type safety
+
+**Options:**
+- `template.slug` - Template slug to render
+- `template.variables` - Variables to pass to template
+- `data` - Email data (merged with template output)
+- `collectionSlug` - Custom collection name (defaults to 'emails')
+
+### `renderTemplate(payload, slug, variables)`
+
+Render an email template without sending.
+
+```typescript
+const { html, text, subject } = await renderTemplate(
+  payload,
+  'welcome-email',
+  { name: 'John' }
+)
+```
+
+### Helper Functions
+
+- `getMailing(payload)` - Get mailing context
+- `processEmails(payload)` - Manually trigger email processing
+- `retryFailedEmails(payload)` - Manually retry failed emails
+
 ## Migration Guide (v0.0.x → v0.1.0)
 
 **🚨 BREAKING CHANGES**: The API has been simplified to use Payload collections directly.
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 0a25527..89ace5f 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@xtr-dev/payload-mailing",
-  "version": "0.1.4",
+  "version": "0.1.5",
   "description": "Template-based email system with scheduling and job processing for PayloadCMS",
   "type": "module",
   "main": "dist/index.js",
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 3bed52c..70288ff 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -21,4 +21,7 @@ export {
   renderTemplate,
   processEmails,
   retryFailedEmails,
+  sendEmail,
+  type BaseEmailData,
+  type SendEmailOptions,
 } from './utils/helpers.js'
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/jobs/sendEmailTask.ts b/src/jobs/sendEmailTask.ts
index c965d6e..a0e8042 100644
--- a/src/jobs/sendEmailTask.ts
+++ b/src/jobs/sendEmailTask.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { renderTemplate } from '../utils/helpers.js'
+import { sendEmail, type BaseEmailData } from '../utils/helpers.js'
 
 export interface SendEmailTaskInput {
   // Template mode fields
@@ -116,96 +116,44 @@ export const sendEmailJob = {
     }
   ],
   handler: async ({ input, payload }: any) => {
-    // Get mailing context from payload
-    const mailingContext = (payload as any).mailing
-    if (!mailingContext) {
-      throw new Error('Mailing plugin not properly initialized')
-    }
-
-    // Cast input to our expected type with validation
+    // Cast input to our expected type
     const taskInput = input as SendEmailTaskInput
 
-    // Validate required fields
-    if (!taskInput.to) {
-      throw new Error('Field "to" is required')
-    }
-
     try {
-      let html: string
-      let text: string | undefined
-      let subject: string
+      // Prepare options for sendEmail based on task input
+      const sendEmailOptions: any = {
+        data: {}
+      }
 
-      // Check if using template or direct email
+      // If using template mode
       if (taskInput.templateSlug) {
-        // Template mode: render the template
-        const rendered = await renderTemplate(
-          payload,
-          taskInput.templateSlug,
-          taskInput.variables || {}
-        )
-        html = rendered.html
-        text = rendered.text
-        subject = rendered.subject
-      } else {
-        // Direct email mode: use provided content
-        if (!taskInput.subject || !taskInput.html) {
-          throw new Error('Subject and HTML content are required when not using a template')
+        sendEmailOptions.template = {
+          slug: taskInput.templateSlug,
+          variables: taskInput.variables || {}
         }
-        subject = taskInput.subject
-        html = taskInput.html
-        text = taskInput.text
       }
 
-      // Parse and validate email addresses
-      const parseEmails = (emails: string | string[] | undefined): string[] | undefined => {
-        if (!emails) return undefined
+      // Build data object from task input
+      const dataFields = ['to', 'cc', 'bcc', 'subject', 'html', 'text', 'scheduledAt', 'priority']
+      const additionalFields: string[] = []
 
-        let emailList: string[]
-        if (Array.isArray(emails)) {
-          emailList = emails
-        } else {
-          emailList = emails.split(',').map(email => email.trim()).filter(Boolean)
+      // Copy standard fields
+      dataFields.forEach(field => {
+        if (taskInput[field] !== undefined) {
+          sendEmailOptions.data[field] = taskInput[field]
         }
+      })
 
-        // Basic email validation
-        const emailRegex = /^[^\s@]+@[^\s@]+\.[^\s@]+$/
-        const invalidEmails = emailList.filter(email => !emailRegex.test(email))
-        if (invalidEmails.length > 0) {
-          throw new Error(`Invalid email addresses: ${invalidEmails.join(', ')}`)
-        }
-
-        return emailList
-      }
-
-      // Prepare email data
-      const emailData: any = {
-        to: parseEmails(taskInput.to),
-        cc: parseEmails(taskInput.cc),
-        bcc: parseEmails(taskInput.bcc),
-        subject,
-        html,
-        text,
-        priority: taskInput.priority || 5,
-      }
-
-      // Add scheduled date if provided
-      if (taskInput.scheduledAt) {
-        emailData.scheduledAt = new Date(taskInput.scheduledAt).toISOString()
-      }
-
-      // Add any additional fields from input (excluding the ones we've already handled)
-      const handledFields = ['templateSlug', 'to', 'cc', 'bcc', 'variables', 'scheduledAt', 'priority']
+      // Copy any additional custom fields
       Object.keys(taskInput).forEach(key => {
-        if (!handledFields.includes(key)) {
-          emailData[key] = taskInput[key]
+        if (!['templateSlug', 'variables', ...dataFields].includes(key)) {
+          sendEmailOptions.data[key] = taskInput[key]
+          additionalFields.push(key)
         }
       })
 
-      // Create the email in the collection using configurable collection name
-      const email = await payload.create({
-        collection: mailingContext.collections.emails,
-        data: emailData
-      })
+      // Use the sendEmail helper to create the email
+      const email = await sendEmail<BaseEmailData>(payload, sendEmailOptions)
 
       return {
         output: {
@@ -214,15 +162,14 @@ export const sendEmailJob = {
           message: `Email queued successfully with ID: ${email.id}`,
           mode: taskInput.templateSlug ? 'template' : 'direct',
           templateSlug: taskInput.templateSlug || null,
-          subject: subject,
-          recipients: emailData.to?.length || 0,
-          scheduledAt: emailData.scheduledAt || null
+          subject: email.subject,
+          recipients: Array.isArray(email.to) ? email.to.length : 1,
+          scheduledAt: email.scheduledAt || null
         }
       }
 
     } catch (error) {
       const errorMessage = error instanceof Error ? error.message : 'Unknown error'
-
       throw new Error(`Failed to queue email: ${errorMessage}`)
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/utils/helpers.ts b/src/utils/helpers.ts
index 1e37e48..a2a70b9 100644
--- a/src/utils/helpers.ts
+++ b/src/utils/helpers.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,56 @@
 import { Payload } from 'payload'
 import { TemplateVariables } from '../types/index.js'
 
+// Base type for email data that all emails must have
+export interface BaseEmailData {
+  to: string | string[]
+  cc?: string | string[]
+  bcc?: string | string[]
+  subject?: string
+  html?: string
+  text?: string
+  scheduledAt?: string | Date
+  priority?: number
+  [key: string]: any
+}
+
+// Options for sending emails
+export interface SendEmailOptions<T extends BaseEmailData = BaseEmailData> {
+  // Template-based email
+  template?: {
+    slug: string
+    variables?: Record<string, any>
+  }
+  // Direct email data
+  data?: Partial<T>
+  // Common options
+  collectionSlug?: string // defaults to 'emails'
+}
+
+/**
+ * Parse and validate email addresses
+ * @internal
+ */
+export const parseAndValidateEmails = (emails: string | string[] | undefined): string[] | undefined => {
+  if (!emails) return undefined
+
+  let emailList: string[]
+  if (Array.isArray(emails)) {
+    emailList = emails
+  } else {
+    emailList = emails.split(',').map(email => email.trim()).filter(Boolean)
+  }
+
+  // Basic email validation
+  const emailRegex = /^[^\s@]+@[^\s@]+\.[^\s@]+$/
+  const invalidEmails = emailList.filter(email => !emailRegex.test(email))
+  if (invalidEmails.length > 0) {
+    throw new Error(`Invalid email addresses: ${invalidEmails.join(', ')}`)
+  }
+
+  return emailList
+}
+
 export const getMailing = (payload: Payload) => {
   const mailing = (payload as any).mailing
   if (!mailing) {
@@ -22,4 +72,84 @@ export const processEmails = async (payload: Payload): Promise<void> => {
 export const retryFailedEmails = async (payload: Payload): Promise<void> => {
   const mailing = getMailing(payload)
   return mailing.service.retryFailedEmails()
+}
+
+/**
+ * Send an email with full type safety
+ *
+ * @example
+ * ```typescript
+ * // With your generated Email type
+ * import { Email } from './payload-types'
+ *
+ * const email = await sendEmail<Email>(payload, {
+ *   template: {
+ *     slug: 'welcome',
+ *     variables: { name: 'John' }
+ *   },
+ *   data: {
+ *     to: 'user@example.com',
+ *     customField: 'value' // Your custom fields are type-safe!
+ *   }
+ * })
+ * ```
+ */
+export const sendEmail = async <T extends BaseEmailData = BaseEmailData>(
+  payload: Payload,
+  options: SendEmailOptions<T>
+): Promise<T> => {
+  const mailing = getMailing(payload)
+  const collectionSlug = options.collectionSlug || mailing.collections.emails || 'emails'
+
+  let emailData: Partial<T> = { ...options.data } as Partial<T>
+
+  // If using a template, render it first
+  if (options.template) {
+    const { html, text, subject } = await renderTemplate(
+      payload,
+      options.template.slug,
+      options.template.variables || {}
+    )
+
+    // Template values take precedence over data values
+    emailData = {
+      ...emailData,
+      subject,
+      html,
+      text,
+    } as Partial<T>
+  }
+
+  // Validate required fields
+  if (!emailData.to) {
+    throw new Error('Field "to" is required for sending emails')
+  }
+
+  if (!emailData.subject || !emailData.html) {
+    throw new Error('Fields "subject" and "html" are required when not using a template')
+  }
+
+  // Process email addresses using shared validation
+  if (emailData.to) {
+    emailData.to = parseAndValidateEmails(emailData.to as string | string[])
+  }
+  if (emailData.cc) {
+    emailData.cc = parseAndValidateEmails(emailData.cc as string | string[])
+  }
+  if (emailData.bcc) {
+    emailData.bcc = parseAndValidateEmails(emailData.bcc as string | string[])
+  }
+
+  // Convert scheduledAt to ISO string if it's a Date
+  if (emailData.scheduledAt instanceof Date) {
+    emailData.scheduledAt = emailData.scheduledAt.toISOString()
+  }
+
+  // Create the email in the collection
+  const email = await payload.create({
+    collection: collectionSlug as any,
+    data: emailData as any
+  })
+
+  return email as unknown as T
 }
\ No newline at end of file