NEW YORK (AP) – Martha Stewart says she was happy to give advice to fellow inmates during her five months behind bars for lying to authorities about a stock deal.

“They have a lot of time to think and plan for the future and they should be encouraged to,” Stewart said Tuesday in an interview on NBC’s “Today” show.

She was promoting her new book, “The Martha Rules: 10 Essentials for Achieving Success as You Start, Build, or Manage a Business.”

“In many of these institutions, there are no consultants, there are no real teachers there to help these women, some of whom are incarcerated for 20 years,” the 64-year-old lifestyle guru said.

“I was so happy to be able to be of use and be helpful and give advice because their minds are working 24 hours a day, just like our minds are working.”

Stewart, who followed her jail time in Alderson, W.Va., with nearly six months in home confinement, has been free of her electronic bracelet since Sept. 1.

She tells readers in her new book to fill a void with something’s that needed, never sacrifice quality and “build your business around something that you are inherently passionate about. … Otherwise it’s just going to be another job.”

Stewart has launched “Martha,” a syndicated daytime show, and a prime-time NBC reality show, “The Apprentice: Martha Stewart.”

When asked by “Today” co-host Katie Couric if she has any regrets, Stewart replied, “None. I went through a period of two years of great difficulty, came back with a passion, with a really guiding light behind me, trying to focus on making sure that every aspect of our business at Martha Stewart Living was great.”