diff --git a/src/microcosm/__init__.py b/src/microcosm/__init__.py
index 1ca83d9..52a1a94 100644
--- a/src/microcosm/__init__.py
+++ b/src/microcosm/__init__.py
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import giteapy
 import giteapy.rest
 import time
 import base64
+
+
 from werkzeug.datastructures import FileStorage
 import yaml
 
@@ -27,7 +29,7 @@ PERMITTED_DOMAIN = os.environ.get(
 
 ENTITY_TYPE_PLURAL_MAP = {
     "reply": "replies",
-    "watch":"watches"
+    "watch": "watches"
 }
 
 core_bp = Blueprint("core", __name__)
@@ -321,7 +323,13 @@ def process_json_post():
     props = body['properties']
     entry_type = detect_entry_type(props)
 
-    now = datetime.now()
+    if 'published' in props:
+
+        from dateutil import parser
+        
+        now = parser.parse(props['published'][0])
+    else:
+        now = datetime.now()
 
     frontmatter, file_path = init_frontmatter(now, entry_type, props.get('name'))