diff --git a/scripts/publish.py b/scripts/publish.py
index 3413f44..f61b940 100755
--- a/scripts/publish.py
+++ b/scripts/publish.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import re
 from typing import Set, Dict
 import logging
 from datetime import datetime
+from dotenv import load_dotenv
 
 # Configure logging
 logging.basicConfig(
@@ -21,11 +22,21 @@ logging.basicConfig(
 
 def load_env_vars() -> tuple[Path, Path]:
     """Load environment variables and return source and destination directories."""
+    # Load .env file from the same directory as the script
+    script_dir = Path(__file__).parent.parent
+    env_path = script_dir / '.env'
+    
+    if not env_path.exists():
+        logging.error(f".env file not found at {env_path}")
+        sys.exit(1)
+        
+    load_dotenv(env_path)
+    
     source_dir = os.getenv('SOURCE_DIR')
     dest_dir = os.getenv('DEST_DIR')
     
     if not source_dir or not dest_dir:
-        logging.error("SOURCE_DIR and DEST_DIR must be set in environment variables")
+        logging.error("SOURCE_DIR and DEST_DIR must be set in .env file")
         sys.exit(1)
     
     # Expand environment variables like $HOME