diff --git a/.github/workflows/unittest.yml b/.github/workflows/unittest.yml
index ec571120..f162d5fa 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/unittest.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/unittest.yml
@@ -8,13 +8,11 @@ on:
   push:
     branches:
       - master
-      - actions_deploy
     tags:
       - "v*"
   pull_request:
     branches:
       - master
-      - actions_deploy
 
   # Allows you to run this workflow manually from the Actions tab
   workflow_dispatch:
@@ -136,8 +134,37 @@ jobs:
       - name: codecov
         run: codecov --required
 
+  draft_release:
+    #needs: unittest
+    # Only come with a tag
+    if: github.event_name == 'push' && startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags')
+    name: Create Release
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - name: Create release file
+        run: |
+          export VERSION_NUMBER=$(echo "${{ github.ref }}" | sed -nre 's/^[^0-9]*(([0-9]+\.)*[0-9]+).*/\1/p' | sed -e 's/\.//g')
+          echo "Version link appendix: ${VERSION_NUMBER}"
+          echo "https://github.com/chongxiaoc/petastorm/blob/master/docs/release-notes.rst#release-${VERSION_NUMBER}" > /tmp/release.md
+      - name: Checkout code
+        uses: actions/checkout@v2
+      - name: Create Release
+        id: create_release
+        uses: actions/create-release@v1
+        env:
+          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }} # This token is provided by Actions, you do not need to create your own token
+        with:
+          tag_name: ${{ github.ref }}
+          release_name: Release ${{ github.ref }}
+          body: |
+            [Release notes] ("https://github.com/chongxiaoc/petastorm/blob/master/docs/release-notes.rst#release-${VERSION_NUMBER}")
+          draft: false
+          prerelease: true # Set to false for a formal release
+
   deploy:
-    needs: unittest
+    needs: draft_release
+    # Only come with a tag
+    if: github.event_name == 'push' && startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags')
     # The type of runner that the job will run on
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     # Steps represent a sequence of tasks that will be executed as part of the job
@@ -157,8 +184,6 @@ jobs:
           python setup.py bdist_wheel
 
       - name: Publish package
-        # Only come with a tag
-        if: github.event_name == 'push' && startsWith(github.ref, 'refs/tags')
         uses: pypa/gh-action-pypi-publish@release/v1
         with:
           user: __token__
diff --git a/docs/release-notes.rst b/docs/release-notes.rst
index 579b9144..9bb26e90 100644
--- a/docs/release-notes.rst
+++ b/docs/release-notes.rst
@@ -4,8 +4,11 @@
 Release notes
 =============
 
-Release 0.11.2 (unreleased)
+Release 0.11.3 (unreleased)
 ===========================
+
+Release 0.12.1
+==============
 - `PR ??? <https://github.com/uber/petastorm/pull/???>`_ (resolves issue
   `#692 <https://github.com/uber/petastorm/issues/692>`_ ):
   Python 3.9 compatibility - use `Thread`'s `is_alive()` instead of `isAlive()`.