diff --git a/publish/src/core/signer.ts b/publish/src/core/signer.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..94aa04f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/publish/src/core/signer.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+import { NostrConnectSigner } from 'applesauce-signers'
+import { RelayPool } from 'applesauce-relay'
+import type { UnsignedEvent } from './event.ts'
+import type { SignedEvent } from './relays.ts'
+
+export interface Signer {
+  getPublicKey(): Promise<string>
+  signEvent(ev: UnsignedEvent): Promise<SignedEvent>
+}
+
+const signerPool = new RelayPool()
+
+NostrConnectSigner.subscriptionMethod = (relays, filters) => signerPool.req(relays, filters)
+NostrConnectSigner.publishMethod = (relays, event) => signerPool.event(relays, event)
+
+function withTimeout<T>(p: Promise<T>, ms: number, label: string): Promise<T> {
+  let timerId: number | undefined
+  const timeoutPromise = new Promise<never>((_r, rej) => {
+    timerId = setTimeout(() => rej(new Error(`${label} timeout`)), ms)
+  })
+  return Promise.race([p, timeoutPromise]).finally(() => {
+    if (timerId !== undefined) clearTimeout(timerId)
+  }) as Promise<T>
+}
+
+export async function createBunkerSigner(bunkerUrl: string): Promise<Signer> {
+  const signer = await withTimeout(
+    NostrConnectSigner.fromBunkerURI(bunkerUrl),
+    30_000,
+    'Bunker connect',
+  )
+  const pubkey = await withTimeout(signer.getPublicKey(), 30_000, 'Bunker getPublicKey')
+  return {
+    getPublicKey: () => Promise.resolve(pubkey),
+    signEvent: async (ev: UnsignedEvent) => {
+      const signed = await withTimeout(signer.signEvent(ev), 30_000, 'Bunker signEvent')
+      return signed as SignedEvent
+    },
+  }
+}