New York ? True to her perfectionist reputation, Martha Stewart is using a stylish and highly detailed personal Web site to tell her side of the story as her high-stakes trial approaches.

Crisis-management experts say the site, Marthatalks.com, is remarkably thorough. It is updated almost daily with letters from fans, supportive newspaper editorials and fresh pictures of the domestic style maven.

People close to Stewart, speaking on condition of anonymity, say she is heavily involved with the site even in her final days of intense pretrial preparation. She is due in court Jan. 20.

“She’s essentially the photo editor,” carefully selecting which pictures are seen by her fans, one source said. The source said Stewart also had been “very involved” with the design and updating of the site.

Stewart is accused of lying to investigators and her own investors about why she sold ImClone Systems Inc. stock in 2001 just before it dropped sharply on a negative government report about an experimental ImClone cancer drug.

Stewart said she and her broker had a pre-existing agreement to sell, but the government said she had privileged information — that ImClone founder Sam Waksal, a friend of Stewart’s, was trying to unload some of his shares.

A guilty verdict could land her behind bars and severely damage the brand she has stamped on thousands of books, magazine covers and home products.

Some of Stewart’s steadfast supporters believe deeply in her products and say she is being targeted because she is a successful woman. Image consultants say the site is an attempt to retain that support — an online sermon.

It’s also an end run around press coverage and the story advanced by prosecutors who can use press conferences and court papers to tell their version, consultants say.

“In a crisis situation, the media have a crucifixion bias,” said Eric Dezenhall, who runs a public-relations firm. “The Internet gives you the freedom to talk right to your audience without filtered interpretation.”