What counts is your relationships with people, not the fine print of the contract. I get a kick out of sending her notes now and then, knowing she has not asked me to. I send queries to magazine editors over the Net all the time. At least half of the mail I receive every day is unsolicited and I'm happy to get about 90 percent of it. They like unsolicited e-mail if it's something they're interested in.
People are funny that way.
I have one of those great big country mailboxes at home, shaped like a barn and large enough to raise small livestock inside. I like getting all the interesting stuff, and I throw away the stuff I don't care about. But online, nothing is simple. Some people take offense at junk e-mail and, instead of just deleting it or asking to get off your list, they carefully compose hate mail to you, your Internet provider, and anyone else who will listen. Fortunately, tempers have cooled a little online, and following some standard operating procedures should keep you in the good graces of the Net cops.