diff --git a/.github/workflows/CI.yaml b/.github/workflows/CI.yaml
index 267c752..17f5715 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/CI.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/CI.yaml
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@ name: CI
 
 on:
   push:
-    branches: [ master ]
+    branches: [ master, zio-1.x ]
   pull_request:
-    branches: [ master ]
+    branches: [ master, zio-1.x ]
 
 jobs:
   build:
@@ -19,5 +19,7 @@ jobs:
         with:
             docker_channel: stable
             docker_version: 20.10
+      - name: Validate Scaladoc
+        run: sbt doc
       - name: Run tests
         run: sbt test +IntegrationTest/test
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yaml b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
index 3b82ce8..7473e11 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yaml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yaml
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 name: Release
 on:
   push:
-    branches: [master, main]
+    branches: [master, main, zio-1.x]
     tags: ["*"]
 jobs:
   publish:
diff --git a/src/it/scala/zio/cassandra/session/cql/CqlSpec.scala b/src/it/scala/zio/cassandra/session/cql/CqlSpec.scala
index adc9afa..405561b 100644
--- a/src/it/scala/zio/cassandra/session/cql/CqlSpec.scala
+++ b/src/it/scala/zio/cassandra/session/cql/CqlSpec.scala
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package zio.cassandra.session.cql
 import com.datastax.oss.driver.api.core.ConsistencyLevel
 import zio.cassandra.session.Session
 import zio.cassandra.session.cql.codec.UnexpectedNullValue
+import zio.cassandra.session.cql.unsafe.lift
 import zio.duration._
 import zio.stream.Stream
 import zio.test.Assertion._
@@ -449,6 +450,27 @@ object CqlSpec {
             }
           }
         }
+      ),
+      suite("put lifted values as is")(
+        testM("should handle lifted values (though redundant) in cqlConst") {
+          val tableName = "tests.test_data"
+          for {
+            results <- cqlConst"select data from ${lift(tableName)} where id in (1)".as[String].select.runCollect
+          } yield assertTrue(results == Chunk("one"))
+        },
+        testM("should handle lifted values in cql") {
+          val tableName = "tests.test_data"
+          for {
+            results <- cql"select data from ${lift(tableName)} where id in ${List(1L)}".as[String].select.runCollect
+          } yield assertTrue(results == Chunk("one"))
+        },
+        testM("should handle lifted values in cqlt") {
+          val tableName = "tests.test_data"
+          for {
+            query   <- cqlt"select data from ${lift(tableName)} where id in ${Put[List[Long]]}".as[String].prepare
+            results <- query(List(1L)).select.runCollect
+          } yield assertTrue(results == Chunk("one"))
+        }
       )
     )
   )
diff --git a/src/main/scala/zio/cassandra/session/cql/CqlConstInterpolator.scala b/src/main/scala/zio/cassandra/session/cql/CqlConstInterpolator.scala
index 1548f51..83f9d60 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/zio/cassandra/session/cql/CqlConstInterpolator.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/zio/cassandra/session/cql/CqlConstInterpolator.scala
@@ -5,10 +5,10 @@ import shapeless.HNil
 import zio.cassandra.session.cql.query.{ ParameterizedQuery, QueryTemplate }
 
 /** Provides a way to lift arbitrary strings into CQL so you can parameterize on values that are not valid CQL
-  * parameters Please note that this is not escaped so do not use this with user-supplied input for your application
-  * (only use cqlConst for input that you as the application author control)
+  * parameters <br> Please note that this is not escaped so do not use this with user-supplied input for your
+  * application (only use cqlConst for input that you as the application author control)
   */
 class CqlConstInterpolator(ctx: StringContext) {
-  def apply(args: Any*): ParameterizedQuery[HNil, Row] =
+  def apply(args: Any*): SimpleQuery[Row] =
     ParameterizedQuery(QueryTemplate(ctx.s(args: _*), identity), HNil)
 }
diff --git a/src/main/scala/zio/cassandra/session/cql/CqlStringInterpolator.scala b/src/main/scala/zio/cassandra/session/cql/CqlStringInterpolator.scala
index 4740a27..f705fdc 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/zio/cassandra/session/cql/CqlStringInterpolator.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/zio/cassandra/session/cql/CqlStringInterpolator.scala
@@ -1,19 +1,53 @@
 package zio.cassandra.session.cql
 
 import com.datastax.oss.driver.api.core.cql.{ BoundStatement, Row }
+import shapeless.ops.hlist.ToList
 import shapeless.{ ::, HList, HNil, ProductArgs }
 import zio.cassandra.session.cql.query.{ ParameterizedQuery, QueryTemplate }
 
-import scala.annotation.{ nowarn, tailrec }
+import scala.annotation.tailrec
 
-class CqlTemplateStringInterpolator(ctx: StringContext) extends ProductArgs {
+sealed abstract class CqlStringInterpolatorBase {
+
+  @tailrec
+  final protected def assembleQuery(
+    strings: Iterator[String],
+    expressions: Iterator[InterpolatorValue],
+    acc: String
+  ): String =
+    if (strings.hasNext && expressions.hasNext) {
+      val str  = strings.next()
+      val expr = expressions.next()
+
+      val placeholder = expr match {
+        case l: LiftedValue               => l.toString
+        case _: BoundValue[_] | _: Put[_] => "?"
+      }
+
+      assembleQuery(
+        strings = strings,
+        expressions = expressions,
+        acc = acc + s"$str$placeholder"
+      )
+    } else if (strings.hasNext && !expressions.hasNext) {
+      val str = strings.next()
+      assembleQuery(
+        strings = strings,
+        expressions = expressions,
+        acc + str
+      )
+    } else acc
+
+}
+
+class CqlTemplateStringInterpolator(ctx: StringContext) extends CqlStringInterpolatorBase with ProductArgs {
   import CqlTemplateStringInterpolator._
-  @nowarn("msg=is never used")
-  def applyProduct[P <: HList, V <: HList](params: P)(implicit
-    bb: BindableBuilder.Aux[P, V]
-  ): QueryTemplate[V, Row] = {
+  def applyProduct[P <: HList, V <: HList](
+    params: P
+  )(implicit bb: BindableBuilder.Aux[P, V], toList: ToList[P, CqltValue]): QueryTemplate[V, Row] = {
     implicit val binder: Binder[V] = bb.binder
-    QueryTemplate[V, Row](ctx.parts.mkString("?"), identity)
+    val queryWithQuestionMarks     = assembleQuery(ctx.parts.iterator, params.toList[CqltValue].iterator, "")
+    QueryTemplate[V, Row](queryWithQuestionMarks, identity)
   }
 }
 
@@ -26,12 +60,15 @@ object CqlTemplateStringInterpolator {
 
   object BindableBuilder {
     type Aux[P, Repr0] = BindableBuilder[P] { type Repr = Repr0 }
+
     def apply[P](implicit builder: BindableBuilder[P]): BindableBuilder.Aux[P, builder.Repr] = builder
-    implicit def hNilBindableBuilder: BindableBuilder.Aux[HNil, HNil]                        = new BindableBuilder[HNil] {
+
+    implicit def hNilBindableBuilder: BindableBuilder.Aux[HNil, HNil] = new BindableBuilder[HNil] {
       override type Repr = HNil
       override def binder: Binder[HNil] = Binder[HNil]
     }
-    implicit def hConsBindableBuilder[PH <: Put[_], T: Binder, PT <: HList, RT <: HList](implicit
+
+    implicit def hConsPutBindableBuilder[T: Binder, PT <: HList, RT <: HList](implicit
       f: BindableBuilder.Aux[PT, RT]
     ): BindableBuilder.Aux[Put[T] :: PT, T :: RT] = new BindableBuilder[Put[T] :: PT] {
       override type Repr = T :: RT
@@ -40,57 +77,35 @@ object CqlTemplateStringInterpolator {
         Binder[T :: RT]
       }
     }
-  }
-}
 
-/** BoundValue is used to capture the value inside the cql interpolated string along with evidence of its Binder so that
-  * a ParameterizedQuery can be built and the values can be bound to the BoundStatement internally
-  */
-private[cql] final case class BoundValue[A](value: A, ev: Binder[A])
+    implicit def hConsLiftedValueBindableBuilder[PT <: HList, RT <: HList](implicit
+      f: BindableBuilder.Aux[PT, RT]
+    ): BindableBuilder.Aux[LiftedValue :: PT, RT] = new BindableBuilder[LiftedValue :: PT] {
+      override type Repr = RT
+      override def binder: Binder[RT] = f.binder
+    }
 
-object BoundValue {
-  // This implicit conversion automatically captures the value and evidence of the Binder in a cql interpolated string
-  implicit def aToBoundValue[A](a: A)(implicit ev: Binder[A]): BoundValue[A] =
-    BoundValue(a, ev)
+  }
 }
 
-final class CqlStringInterpolator(ctx: StringContext) {
-  @tailrec
-  private def replaceValuesWithQuestionMark(
-    strings: Iterator[String],
-    expressions: Iterator[BoundValue[_]],
-    acc: String
-  ): String =
-    if (strings.hasNext && expressions.hasNext) {
-      val str = strings.next()
-      val _   = expressions.next()
-      replaceValuesWithQuestionMark(
-        strings = strings,
-        expressions = expressions,
-        acc = acc + s"$str?"
-      )
-    } else if (strings.hasNext && !expressions.hasNext) {
-      val str = strings.next()
-      replaceValuesWithQuestionMark(
-        strings = strings,
-        expressions = expressions,
-        acc + str
-      )
-    } else acc
+final class CqlStringInterpolator(ctx: StringContext) extends CqlStringInterpolatorBase {
+
+  def apply(values: CqlValue*): SimpleQuery[Row] = {
+    val queryWithQuestionMarks = assembleQuery(ctx.parts.iterator, values.iterator, "")
 
-  final def apply(values: BoundValue[_]*): SimpleQuery[Row] = {
-    val queryWithQuestionMark                                     = replaceValuesWithQuestionMark(ctx.parts.iterator, values.iterator, "")
     val assignValuesToStatement: BoundStatement => BoundStatement = { in: BoundStatement =>
       val (configuredBoundStatement, _) =
-        values.foldLeft((in, 0)) { case ((current, index), bv: BoundValue[a]) =>
-          val binder: Binder[a] = bv.ev
-          val value: a          = bv.value
-          val statement         = binder.bind(current, index, value)
-          val nextIndex         = binder.nextIndex(index)
-          (statement, nextIndex)
+        values.foldLeft((in, 0)) { case ((current, index), qv: CqlValue) =>
+          qv match {
+            case _: LiftedValue            => (current, index)
+            case BoundValue(value, binder) =>
+              val statement = binder.bind(current, index, value)
+              val nextIndex = binder.nextIndex(index)
+              (statement, nextIndex)
+          }
         }
       configuredBoundStatement
     }
-    ParameterizedQuery(QueryTemplate[HNil, Row](queryWithQuestionMark, assignValuesToStatement), HNil)
+    ParameterizedQuery(QueryTemplate[HNil, Row](queryWithQuestionMarks, assignValuesToStatement), HNil)
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/scala/zio/cassandra/session/cql/InterpolatorValue.scala b/src/main/scala/zio/cassandra/session/cql/InterpolatorValue.scala
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f4986c9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/scala/zio/cassandra/session/cql/InterpolatorValue.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+package zio.cassandra.session.cql
+
+sealed trait InterpolatorValue
+
+sealed trait CqltValue extends InterpolatorValue
+
+sealed trait CqlValue extends InterpolatorValue
+
+object CqlValue {
+
+  // This implicit conversion automatically captures the value and evidence of the Binder in a cql interpolated string
+  implicit def aToBoundValue[A](a: A)(implicit ev: Binder[A]): BoundValue[A] =
+    BoundValue(a, ev)
+
+}
+
+/** BoundValue is used to capture the value inside the cql interpolated string along with evidence of its Binder so that
+  * a ParameterizedQuery can be built and the values can be bound to the BoundStatement internally
+  */
+final case class BoundValue[A](value: A, ev: Binder[A]) extends CqlValue
+
+sealed trait Put[T] extends CqltValue
+
+object Put {
+
+  def apply[T: Binder]: Put[T] = put.asInstanceOf[Put[T]]
+
+  private val put: Put[Any] = new Put[Any] {}
+
+}
+
+/** LiftedValue is useful when you want to inject a value into cql query as is without escaping (similar to
+  * [[zio.cassandra.session.cql.CqlConstInterpolator]], but on a lower lever). <br> Please only use LiftedValue for
+  * input that you as the application author control.
+  */
+final case class LiftedValue(value: Any) extends CqltValue with CqlValue {
+
+  override def toString: String = value.toString // to keep things simple with cqlConst
+
+}
diff --git a/src/main/scala/zio/cassandra/session/cql/Put.scala b/src/main/scala/zio/cassandra/session/cql/Put.scala
deleted file mode 100644
index dea6c00..0000000
--- a/src/main/scala/zio/cassandra/session/cql/Put.scala
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,6 +0,0 @@
-package zio.cassandra.session.cql
-
-trait Put[T]
-object Put {
-  def apply[T: Binder]: Put[T] = new Put[T] {}
-}
diff --git a/src/main/scala/zio/cassandra/session/cql/package.scala b/src/main/scala/zio/cassandra/session/cql/package.scala
index 223f49d..6fc1826 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/zio/cassandra/session/cql/package.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/zio/cassandra/session/cql/package.scala
@@ -12,4 +12,26 @@ package object cql {
     val cql      = new CqlStringInterpolator(ctx)
     val cqlConst = new CqlConstInterpolator(ctx)
   }
+
+  object unsafe {
+
+    /** lifting a value is useful when you want to inject a value into cql query as is without escaping (similar to
+      * cqlConst interpolator, but on a lower lever). <br> Please only use `lift()` for input that you as the
+      * application author control. Example:
+      * {{{
+      * import unsafe._
+      *
+      * private val tableName = "my_table"
+      * def selectById(ids: Seq[Long]) = cql"select id from \${lift(tableName)} where id in \$ids".as[Int]
+      * }}}
+      * instead of
+      * {{{
+      * private val tableName = "my_table"
+      * def selectById(ids: Seq[Long]) = (cqlConst"select id from \$tableName" ++  cql"where id in \$ids").as[Int]
+      * }}}
+      */
+    def lift(value: Any): LiftedValue = LiftedValue(value)
+
+  }
+
 }