Could the worst be over for Martha Stewart?

Feb 21, 2006, 4:42 GMT

New York - One year ago she was leaving a prison after serving several months in jail for her role in a suspicious stock sale. Now Martha Stewart says her business is back to her preconviction days, having regained its 'spirit' if not its value in the glory days in 2001.

'Maybe our revenues aren't as high, but we're back in spirit and in business dealings,' Stewart told Newsweek magazine in an article published in its February 27 edition.

She said she was unhappy about losing the appeal of her conviction last month, which put an end to her criminal case.

'I'm not happy about the appeal. I'm not happy about the entire situation. I never will be,' Stewart said, according to a news release issued by Newsweek.

Another setback for Stewart came when her television show, 'Apprentice' flopped. She said she was supposed to have started out by firing Donald Trump, featured in the original 'The Apprentice' on the air, clearing the way for her show to be the sole 'The Apprentice.'

'But Donald really wanted to stay on,' she said.

It was unfair to Trump and to her to have both shows on at the same time, she told Newsweek.

The show's producer Mark Burnett admitted to Newsweek that dumping Trump was suggested, but added, 'Thank God that didn't happen.' He said Stewart's show just didn't 'ignite viewer interest.'

Meanwhile, advertisers and subscribers have been returning to Stewart's magazine and she's begun new projects, like a satellite radio show and a new magazine.