diff --git a/.github/actions/action-a.yml b/.github/actions/action-a.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ad1b0c5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/actions/action-a.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+name: 'Hello World'
+description: 'Greet someone'
+inputs:
+  who-to-greet:  # id of input
+    description: 'Who to greet'
+    required: true
+    default: 'World'
+outputs:
+  random-number:
+    description: "Random number"
+    value: ${{ steps.random-number-generator.outputs.random-number }}
+runs:
+  using: "composite"
+  steps:
+    - name: Set Greeting
+      run: echo "Hello $INPUT_WHO_TO_GREET."
+      shell: bash
+      env:
+        INPUT_WHO_TO_GREET: ${{ inputs.who-to-greet }}
+
+    - name: Random Number Generator
+      id: random-number-generator
+      run: echo "random-number=$(echo $RANDOM)" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
+      shell: bash
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/.github/workflows/release.yml b/.github/workflows/release.yml
index f526623..3ef7e40 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/release.yml
@@ -55,6 +55,11 @@ jobs: # these jobs run serially because of the 'needs:' keyword on each
       new-branch: ${{ steps.version-check.outputs.new-branch }}
       branch-snapshot-version: ${{ steps.version-check.outputs.branch-snapshot-version }}
     steps:
+      - id: foo
+        uses: ./.github/actions/action-a.yml
+        with:
+          who-to-greet: 'Mona the Octocat'
+
       - name: figure out versions
         id: version-check
         run: |