Rodeo veteran Chris Navarro publishes first novel

Chris Navarro released his first novel, What Remains Wild, on Nov. 11, 2026. The former bull rider and bronze sculptor based the fiction on elements of his own life. The book follows Clint Chase, a 26-year-old rodeo cowboy from Casper who faces a turning point during the Cody Stampede on July 4.

Navarro began competing in rodeo at age 16. He discovered Casper College through a magazine, moved to Casper, and rode bulls and bareback broncs for the school’s team. After leaving the rodeo circuit, he worked in the oil fields before starting his full-time art career in 1986.

The sculptor’s work appears at the Tate Geological Museum at Casper College, the Washakie Museum and Cultural Center in Worland, and Cheyenne Frontier Days. He also completed an art project called Windborne Wyoming. Navarro participated in the NC Mustang Pride documentary, which chronicled a championship season.

During the documentary process, Navarro took a creative writing course at Casper College. He applied those skills to draft What Remains Wild. The story explores themes of decision-making, friendship, and personal responsibility. It depicts the highs and lows of a rodeo career and the rapid changes life can bring.

Navarro has spent four decades in the art world. He has produced thousands of pieces and maintains an art gallery in Arizona. He has also published multiple books about his art. His new novel adds a narrative fiction element to his body of work.

The book is available on Amazon and Kindle. An audiobook version is available on Audible. Readers interested in rodeo, horses, or Wyoming settings can purchase the novel through those platforms.