diff --git a/queued_mailer/backend.py b/queued_mailer/backend.py
index 311c3b4..18f0a37 100644
--- a/queued_mailer/backend.py
+++ b/queued_mailer/backend.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ class EmailBackend(BaseEmailBackend):
         num_sent = 0
         for email in email_messages:
             try:
-                self.task.apply_async(email)
+                self.task.apply_async([email,])
                 num_sent += 1
             except Exception as e:
                 logger.error("cannot send message %s: %r" % (_get_message_recipients(email), e))
diff --git a/queued_mailer/tasks.py b/queued_mailer/tasks.py
index 430da12..b0653d5 100644
--- a/queued_mailer/tasks.py
+++ b/queued_mailer/tasks.py
@@ -3,6 +3,6 @@ from .settings import EMAIL_BACKEND
 
 
 @app.task()
-def send_message():
+def send_message(email):
     logger.info(EMAIL_BACKEND)
-    logger.info('sent')
+    logger.info(email)