diff --git a/MqttLibrary/build.gradle b/MqttLibrary/build.gradle
index f2a616d..fe2c2dd 100644
--- a/MqttLibrary/build.gradle
+++ b/MqttLibrary/build.gradle
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ plugins {
 }
 
 group 'com.craxiom'
-version '0.5.0'
+version '0.6.0'
 
 android {
     compileSdkVersion 33
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ android {
     defaultConfig {
         minSdkVersion 24
         targetSdkVersion 33
-        versionCode 11
+        versionCode 12
         versionName version
 
         setProperty("archivesBaseName", "$applicationName-$versionName")
diff --git a/MqttLibrary/src/main/java/com/craxiom/mqttlibrary/connection/DefaultMqttConnection.java b/MqttLibrary/src/main/java/com/craxiom/mqttlibrary/connection/DefaultMqttConnection.java
index c59f074..751e7f7 100644
--- a/MqttLibrary/src/main/java/com/craxiom/mqttlibrary/connection/DefaultMqttConnection.java
+++ b/MqttLibrary/src/main/java/com/craxiom/mqttlibrary/connection/DefaultMqttConnection.java
@@ -8,11 +8,11 @@
 import com.craxiom.mqttlibrary.IConnectionStateListener;
 import com.craxiom.mqttlibrary.IMqttService;
 import com.craxiom.mqttlibrary.R;
+import com.google.protobuf.InvalidProtocolBufferException;
 import com.google.protobuf.MessageOrBuilder;
 import com.google.protobuf.util.JsonFormat;
 import com.hivemq.client.internal.mqtt.lifecycle.mqtt3.Mqtt3ClientDisconnectedContextView;
 import com.hivemq.client.mqtt.datatypes.MqttQos;
-import com.hivemq.client.mqtt.exceptions.ConnectionFailedException;
 import com.hivemq.client.mqtt.lifecycle.MqttDisconnectSource;
 import com.hivemq.client.mqtt.mqtt3.Mqtt3AsyncClient;
 import com.hivemq.client.mqtt.mqtt3.Mqtt3Client;
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 import com.hivemq.client.mqtt.mqtt3.message.connect.connack.Mqtt3ConnAck;
 import com.hivemq.client.mqtt.mqtt3.message.connect.connack.Mqtt3ConnAckReturnCode;
 
-import java.net.UnknownHostException;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture;
 import java.util.concurrent.CopyOnWriteArrayList;
@@ -249,18 +248,29 @@ protected void publishMessage(String mqttMessageTopic, MessageOrBuilder message)
     {
         try
         {
-            final String messageJson = jsonFormatter.print(message);
-
-            if (mqtt3Client.getState().isConnectedOrReconnect())
-            {
-                mqtt3Client.publishWith().topic(mqttMessageTopic).qos(MqttQos.AT_LEAST_ONCE).payload(messageJson.getBytes()).send();
-            }
-        } catch (Exception e)
+            final String jsonMessage = jsonFormatter.print(message);
+            publishMessage(mqttMessageTopic, jsonMessage);
+        } catch (InvalidProtocolBufferException e)
         {
             Timber.e(e, "Caught an exception when trying to send an MQTT message");
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Publishes the JSON string to the specified topic.
+     *
+     * @param mqttMessageTopic The MQTT topic to publish the message to.
+     * @param jsonMessage      The JSON string to send to the MQTT broker.
+     * @since 0.6.0
+     */
+    protected void publishMessage(String mqttMessageTopic, String jsonMessage)
+    {
+        if (mqtt3Client.getState().isConnectedOrReconnect())
+        {
+            mqtt3Client.publishWith().topic(mqttMessageTopic).qos(MqttQos.AT_LEAST_ONCE).payload(jsonMessage.getBytes()).send();
+        }
+    }
+
     /**
      * Adds an {@link IConnectionStateListener} so that it will be notified of all future MQTT connection state changes.
      *
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4c030de..ce336a3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ It is important to note that the pieces provided in the library cannot stand on
 
 
 ## Change log
+##### 0.6.0 - 2023-07-17
+* Overload the publishMessage method to enable sending plain JSON strings.
+
 ##### [0.5.0](https://github.com/christianrowlands/android-mqtt-connection-lib/releases/tag/v0.5.0) - 2022-10-25
 * Change the onMdmOverride method to protected so it can be overridden