Schachinger's father is an Austrian diplomat and his mother is an artist of Mexican and Ecuadorian descent.

[4][5] He published his debut novel Nicht wie ihr in 2019, and it was shortlisted for that year's German Book Prize.

[6] The jury praised the novel for its "Viennese milieu language and wonderful football metaphors" as well as the "snotty, funny and original" narrator's voice.

[7] According to Schachinger, the novel originated in a course given by the Austrian author Anna Kim, who also assisted him during the writing process and in the later search for a publisher.

[9] The novel is set at an elite Viennese boarding school and follows Till, a 15 year old that takes refuge in computer games (especially Age of Empires II) after his father's death.