There is a Mineral connection so...
The clue should have read Abstract with Animal, Mineral and Vegetable connections

ImNotJohn - To do with the arts? NO

[Raak] - To do with sports? NO

[Irouléguy] - Is the animal connection a fictional human?YES ripple of applause from the audience

[Phil] - Does the fictional aspect account for the "abstract" part of the clue? YES A whispering murmur from the audience

[Irouléguy] Is the fictional aspect from a novel? YES several members of the audience about to go to the bar for a shandy return to their seats

[Quendalon] - Was the novel written more recently than 1900? YES
[Projoy] - Written since 1950? YES
[ImNotJohn] - Written by a British writer?NO
[Chalky] - Are the vegetable and mineral bits mentioned in the title - or are they the paper and ink part of the novel?
NO and YES to in the title and paper as the vegetable YES (had not considered the ink when setting the clue but yes it is printed with ink but was not part of the clue)

[Inkspot] Just to clarify: the VEGETABLE component is the paper, and the MINERAL component is part of the title?

[Quendalon] Written since 1980? Yes and NO wry smiles litter the audience

clarification:VEGETABLE component is the paper, and the MINERAL component is part of the title? YES

[Chalky] Is this a series of stories? YES loud applause from the audience